DISINFO: Europe justifies the increasing defence budgets with “belligerent” Moscow
SUMMARY
It is necessary for Europe to justify the increasing military budget. Now, all big countries will allocate significant amounts of money for defence budgets, reducing welfare and raising taxes. This step should be somehow explained to European citizens, who will have to “tighten their belts”. Of course, the best explanation for this policy will be a belligerent Moscow. The fact that Moscow actually wants peace and order will be presented as a bluff.
RESPONSE
This disinformation story aims to portray the EU as a warmongering, anti-Russian and militaristic geopolitical power. Meanwhile, Russia is presented as a country genuinely interested in peace.
The claim that Europe justifies the increase of its military budget with an “inexistent” Russian threat is ungrounded.
This disinformation message appeared in context to the recent EU decision to allocate an additional 800 billion euros for defence needs. According to the words of Ursula von der Leyen, “Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us has seen in our adult lifetime. ReArm Europe’ could mobilise close to 800 billion euros of defence expenditures for a safe and resilient Europe”.
See also the European Council conclusions on European defence, 6 March 2025 and our article 'Reminder: Russia wants war, not peace'.
The ongoing increase in defence spending across the EU is explained by the most aggressive Russian actions – annexation of Crimea, War in Donbas and the 2022 large-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that The EU diplomacy’s vision for peace in Ukraine illustrates its Russophobia, that The EU wants the war in Ukraine to continue, and that Munich Security Conference reveals EU’s support for escalating Ukraine conflict.