Disinfo: NATO exercise Defender 2020 increases the danger of war in the middle of Europe

Summary

NATO exercise Defender 2020 increases the danger of war in the middle of Europe. “Defender Europe 2020” exercise increases the danger of war in the middle of Europe, be it accidental or not. A war in Europe seems to be possible again, the consequences are devastating in an area where already in the 1980s it was agreed between East and West that the industrial and infrastructure conditions do not allow a war without insane destruction. The exercise is exactly the opposite of détente, a provocative action and at this time – the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Germany from fascism by the Red Army. What should the Russian people think: march again on their Western border and then? Nobody in this country will ever forget the 27 million dead and the immense destruction!

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the West/NATO threatening or encircling Russia and the US-led military exercise "Defender-Europe 2020", which is not aimed or targeted at Russia. NATO exercises "Defender 2020" do not increase the danger of war in Europe. Exercise Defender-Europe 2020 is the deployment of a division-size combat-credible force from the United States to Europe and the movement of personnel and equipment across the Atlantic to various training areas in Europe, such as Germany and Poland. As stated by US Major General Andrew Rohling, Deputy Commanding General for the US Army in Europe, the US-led exercise "Defender 2020" is an American exercise with 18 NATO partner countries. Rohling emphasises that the aim of the exercise is not to target any country, but rather to test strategic readiness and how to react to a crisis. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also insisted that the exercise was not aimed at Russia. “Defender Europe is not directed against any particular country. This defensive exercise demonstrates the ability to rapidly move a large force from the United States to Europe to help protect other NATO Allies if needed”, Stoltenberg said. For more information about the exercise please consult the US Army Europe Website and the Factsheet about Defender 2020 and updates from the Bundeswehr (German Army).

Go to search

publication/media

Sputnik Germany (Archived)
Sputnik Germany (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 183
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 17/01/2020
  • Outlet language(s) German
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Germany, US, Russia
  • Keywords: security threat, Military exercise, Anti-Russian, US presence in Europe, NATO, Warmongering
see more

Disinfo: Suspension of Sputnik Estonia is censorship

Residents of Estonia decided that the suspension of Sputnik is censorship. These were viewers who watched a discussion program on the Estonian TV channel ETV+ on sanctions against the agency. Political and economic sanctions against journalists are censorship.

Jan 16, 2020
Disproof

Estonia is on the 11th place of Reporters without Borders Press freedom index. Estonia has not blocked Sputnik Estonia's website and it is accessible. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu has emphasized that Estonia has not taken any measures against the portal's media content: "They are financial sanctions aimed at economic activity. I believe it to be justified. We have notified the European Commission's Legal Service. European agencies have said in the Commission that steps taken by Estonia in exercising sanctions policy are warranted."

The steps taken by Estonia are based on the Article 2 of the Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 on the territorial integrity of Ukraine that foresees freezing the assets of Dmitry Kiselyov, the Director-General of Rossija Segodnya. According to the articles of association of the company, the Director-General has the right to decide upon opening bank accounts and carry out invoicing. This corresponds to the condition "having the right to use all or part of the assets of a legal person or entity" in the EU Best Practices for the effective implementation of restrictive measures.

Disinfo: The EU intentionally destroyed economies of the Baltic states

The Baltic states are facing demographic catastrophe because its youth emigrated. This happened as a result of the EU’s deliberate destruction of the Baltic states’ economies.

Jan 16, 2020
Disproof

This is a conspiracy theory and propagandistic claim aimed at discrediting the EU and its economic policies and to ridicule the Baltic states by exacerbating the demographic decline that they face. In fact, many other eastern European countries experience a population decline, including Russia.

Economies of the Baltic states during their EU membership grew at a much higher rate than Eurozone economies. Although the GDP per capita in the Baltic states remains below the EU average, it has been rapidly approaching the average. For instance, this indicator for Estonia stood at 54% when the country joined the EU and increased to 77% by 2017. The economic situation of all three Baltic states is rather positive and demonstrates one of the leading economic growth indicators in the EU. The dynamics within the last years can be seen here.

Disinfo: Foreign espionage could be to blame for Iran downing flight PS752

Foreign espionage might be to blame for Iran downing flight PS752. Today, there is a new angle about the recent tragedy that occurred in Iran (downing of the Ukrainian plane PS752): it may have been caused by the fact that someone intercepted the signal and gave a signal to the operator (Iranian base) to act differently.

Jan 16, 2020
Disproof

Conspiracy theory about the downing of the Ukrainian flight PS 752.

The Iranian authorities initially denied responsibility but the Revolutionary Guard admitted that the plane had been mistaken for a "cruise missile" during heightened tensions with the US.