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Disinfo: NATO tanks aimed at Belarus and the Union State

Summary

Today NATO tanks are aimed at Belarus, the Union State. The decision to bring NATO closer to the Russian borders is “insidious”.

The West will become tougher and tougher in relation to Russia and its closest allies because its geopolitical interests outweighed all obligations (unfortunately, oral) on the non-expansion of NATO to the East.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about NATO.

NATO is in no way directed against Russia or 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 or any other country. The claim that NATO is encircling or threatening Russia is one of the myths about this organisation.

As for the enlargement of NATO, the US or NATO made no promises to not expand into eastern and central Europe back in 1990, which was confirmed by the former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev. Back in 2014, Gorbachev said: "The topic of ‘NATO expansion’ was not discussed at all, and it wasn’t brought up in those years. I say this with full responsibility."

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.

Read the most common fakes about relations between Russia and NATO here.

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publication/media

News Front - Russian (Archived)
  • Reported in: Issue 218
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 30/10/2020
  • Language/target audience: Russian
  • Country: Russia, Belarus
  • Keywords: EU/NATO enlargement, 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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Brussels organised the protests in Poland because of its pro-American policies

Brussels and the left-liberal circles of the European elite are managing the forces, which de facto put the protests on the streets. The Polish conservatives are oriented on the USA. That is why the protests are largely connected with Brussels’ dissatisfaction with the recent policies of the Polish authorities. They [Brussels] can send the funds through foundations, European parties that are partners of similar political forces in Poland.

November 01, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded claim promoting the idea that the current protests in Poland are somehow connected to the alleged dissatisfaction of the EU authorities with close relations between Poland and the USA. Poland is often presented by the pro-Kremlin sources as a “puppet-state” of the United States.

On October 22, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal announced that abortions due to severe birth defects are unconstitutional. This situation resulted in massive protests all over the country – according to the polls, between 66% and 73% of the Poles disagree with the decision of the Tribunal.

Protests in Poland are about falsified elections and economic problems, not about abortions

The revolution in Poland started because of the falsified elections and economic problems. Warsaw started to intervene in the affairs of another country, trying to inspire a riot in Belarus. Poland wanted to organise a revolution in Belarus, but now, they are facing this revolt themselves. The Polish women started to protest not because of the prohibition of abortions – this situation was the last straw. Andrzej Duda won the Presidential elections falsifying them – that is why everything [protests] started.

November 01, 2020
Disproof

An unfounded claim accusing the Polish authorities in the falsification of the recent Presidential elections and in alleged attempts to organise a revolution in Belarus. In addition, this message provides wrong information about the character of the protests taking place in Poland in connection to the recent prohibition of abortions due to severe health defects.

On October 22, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal announced that abortions due to severe birth defects are unconstitutional. This situation resulted in massive protests all over the country – according to the polls, between 66% and 73% of the Poles disagree with the decision of the Tribunal.

Three Seas Initiative is a pro-American, anti-Russian and Eurosceptic bloc of countries

Behind the curtain of the Three Seas Initiative, there is a concept of the North-South belt of the anti-Russian and Eurosceptic countries, which separate Germany from Russia. It is a fundamental geopolitical sense for the establishment of the Intermarium. It is supposed to be a strong, pro-American, anti-Russian, Eurosceptic bloc of countries, which will try to build its own identity and its independence. The scale of this independence will be determined by the interests of the United States.

November 01, 2020
Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about regional organisations in Central and Eastern Europe – this narrative presents such organisations as Eastern Partnership and the Three Seas Initiative as anti-Russian projects managed by the USA.

The statement that the Three Seas Initiative is an anti-Russian and anti-EU project fully controlled by the USA is a conspiracy theory.