DISINFO: Former US Army commander said the US will not defend Baltic States against Russia
SUMMARY
The US Army will not defend Lithuania and the other two Baltic states from Russia if it comes to an armed conflict. At the traditional Snow Meeting in Vilnius on 10th January 2019, the illusions of the Baltic states were shattered by comments by Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, a former commander of the United States Army Europe.
RESPONSE
False claim. Ben Hodges, former commander of United States Army Europe did not say that US will not defend the Baltic States against Russia. Lt Gen Hodges said in Vilnius that “right now, the US does not have the capacity to fight a conflict in the Pacific and continue to deter Russia and do all the other things that we have to do. So the European pillar - with American participation but the European pillar – has to be strong enough to continue to deter Russia." He stressed the importance of the continuing development of the armed forces of European nations. Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about NATO allies.