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Disinfo: NATO is not an alliance of states that defend themselves

Summary

NATO is not an alliance of states that defend themselves. Today, NATO is shamelessly lying and “rolling up” to the Russian borders on its German “Leopards” – these are tanks of a new generation. NATO bases are along with Russia’s borders, NATO countries have enormous defence expenditures and have a look at that NATO army… And they say that they are afraid of Russia.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about NATO.

NATO is in no way directed against Russia nor any other state. NATO’s objectives are set out in the 1949 Washington Treaty which forms the legal basis of the alliance. The treaty states that parties “are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and security”.

NATO has taken defensive and proportionate steps in response to a changed security environment. Following Russia's aggressive actions against Ukraine, Allies requested a greater NATO presence in the region. NATO exercises and military deployments are not directed against Russia, Belarus nor any other country. The claim that NATO is encircling or threatening Russia is one of the myths about this organisation.

See several other anti-NATO narratives such as NATO provoking Russia, Kaliningrad exclave is threatened by NATO, Eastern European countries are NATO “hostages” (Baltic states, Moldova, Poland) and that NATO has taken a path of aggression and NATO is trying to destroy the military alliance of Russia and Belarus.

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publication/media

Polnyi contact - Radio Vesti [from 24:52 to 25:31] (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 221
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 15/11/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: EU, Russia, US
  • Keywords: Encircling Russia, NATO

Disclaimer

Cases in the EUvsDisinfo database focus on messages in the international information space that are identified as providing a partial, distorted, or false depiction of reality and spread key pro-Kremlin messages. This does not necessarily imply, however, that a given outlet is linked to the Kremlin or editorially pro-Kremlin, or that it has intentionally sought to disinform. EUvsDisinfo publications do not represent an official EU position, as the information and opinions expressed are based on media reporting and analysis of the East Stratcom Task Force.

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Dominion deleted 2.7 million Trump votes nationwide

A report says that the Dominion voting system deleted 2.7 million Trump votes nationwide. Data analysis finds 221,000 Pennsylvania votes switched from president Trump to Biden. 941,000 Trump votes deleted. States using Dominion voting systems switched 435,000 votes from Trump to Biden.

November 17, 2020
Disproof

Recurring disinformation about the US presidential election 2020, which Russian TV channel amplified uncritically.

After Trump’s tweet, a group of federal, state and local officials overseeing the nation’s voting system said that in the recent election, “there is no evidence that any voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes, or was in any way compromised.” The joint statement, by the Elections Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council and the Election Infrastructure Sector Coordinating Executive Committees, described the recent voting as “the most secure in American history.” The statement was distributed by the federal government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security.

Twitter, Facebook and Google are meddling into US elections and Russia

Now the US has another trouble. Large IT companies are meddling in their election: Twitter, Facebook, Google. They are censoring the republicans, smearing Trump and dominating with their pretense to determine what is good and what isn’t for billions of people and for the Americans.

Is this meddling? 100%. The rule by the people that were not elected. […] What gives them the right to meddle in elections? Never mind American, but Russian? And Russian way of life as such?

 

November 17, 2020
Disproof

Pro-Kremlin disinformation about Western social media companies and censorship. The disinformation message appeared after YouTube flagged a broadcast of "Vesti Nedeli" as potentially inappropriate or offensive to some audiences. Despite the label users wishing to view the content can still do so.

There is no basis to the claims that social media companies such as Twitter, Facebook or Google were meddling in the US election or engaging in censorship. Ahead of the 2020 Presidential election in the US the companies took it upon themselves to adopt additional measures to protect the integrity of election, which included promoting authoritative information, limiting political ads, and labelling misleading information among other means. The companies apply these measures in line with the community standards that users accept upon using the platforms.

The Baltic countries had well-developed economy during the Soviet era

The Baltic countries, influenced by Russophobic propaganda initiated in the West, are increasing their defense budgets and regularly procuring weapons and military equipment from NATO partners (mainly from the United States and Britain).

Thirty years ago – before making the abrupt transition to the camp of “Russia’s adversaries” – the Baltic countries (as well as Ukraine) had a well-developed economy, largely oriented towards Russia, while now they have been virtually destroyed.

Incidentally, just like withdrawing from NATO, making the transition to the category of neutral countries would free up the budgetary funds that are so necessary for these countries today, and that they now spend on weapons to counter the so-called “threat from Russia”, which continues to be just the fruit yielded by Russophobic propaganda by the United States and Great Britain.

November 17, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation consistent with disinformation narratives about socio-economic degradation in the Baltic States as opposed to their alleged well-being under the USSR. Estonia’s GDP per capita in 1993 was 5749 dollars, while in 2019 it had increased to 38,811 dollars.

The economic situation of all three Baltic states is rather positive, as demonstrated by the economic growth indicators in the EU. The dynamics within the last years can be seen here.