Disinfo: Lithuania is occupied by NATO

Summary

Lithuania is a NATO-occupied country.

Disproof

This message is a conspiracy consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about the Baltic states under external control. Lithuania made a sovereign decision to become part of NATO, joining on the 29 March 2004 by depositing their instruments of accession with the United States Government. Lithuania’s membership in NATO is based upon the provision set forth in the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania: “to guarantee the security and independence of the country, welfare of the citizens and their fundamental rights and liberties”.

Generally, lost sovereignty is one of the most common pro-Kremlin propaganda narratives. Pro-Kremlin disinformation sources like to claim that certain countries are no longer truly sovereign. Examples of this narrative are numerous: Ukraine is ruled by foreigners, the Baltic states are not really countries, the EU is directed by Washington.

See also earlier disinformation case alleging that the Baltic states are dying because they chose not to be with Russia.

Go to search

publication/media

Berestje News (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 148
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 05/04/2019
  • Outlet language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Lithuania
  • Keywords: West, Conspiracy theory, NATO, Baltic states
see more

Disinfo: NATO is the global fuse to ignite war

Today, NATO is the fuse the Anglo-Saxon powers use to ignite wars, just as the same powers instigated a war against Austria-Hungary and the German Reich. The same fuse passes over the Versailles treaty in 1919 and the Second World War.

Apr 04, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, portraying NATO as a threat to peace and having a belligerent agenda. NATO is a defensive alliance, whose purpose is to protect its member states. Its exercises and military deployments are not directed against Russia – or any other country. NATO is regularly updating the military requirements for civilian infrastructure, at a time when there are increased challenges to security.

Disinfo: NATO cultivates Cold War block thinking and considers Russia as an enemy

NATO continues to cultivate old ways of thinking and the image of Russia as an enemy. One of the main objectives of the Western military alliance is still the “fight against the aggression of Moscow”. Moscow keeps calling for an end to Cold War block thinking. But that would mean the alliance having to search for a new meaning and new goals. For NATO it is easier to live with the good old enemy image.

Apr 04, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, portraying NATO having a belligerent agenda against Russia. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has introduced sweeping changes to its membership and working practices – changes made clear by its adoption of new Strategic Concepts in 1999 and 2010. Accusations that NATO has retained its Cold War purpose ignore the reality of those changes. Moreover, NATO reached out to Russia with a series of partnership initiatives, culminating in the foundation of the NATO-Russia Council in 2002. No other country outside the alliance has such a privileged relationship with NATO. As stated by NATO heads of state and government at the Warsaw Summit in July 2016, "the Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia. But we cannot and will not compromise on the principles on which our Alliance and security in Europe and North America rest".

Disinfo: NATO promised Russia it would not expand after the Cold War

In 1989 NATO promised Russia it would not expand after the Cold War.

Mikhail Gorbachev knew: If East Germany joins NATO, the Eastern European countries could then follow this example. But the West assured him at the time that the alliance would not expand.

Apr 04, 2019
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation that NATO had promised that the Alliance would not expand to the East.

NATO Allies take decisions by consensus and these are recorded. There is no record of any such decision having been taken by NATO. Personal assurances from individual leaders cannot replace Alliance consensus and do not constitute formal NATO agreement.