DISINFO: NATO is a mechanism of American control over Europe
SUMMARY
Europe has become a victim of its own American-centrism. For Europe to become a global player, its countries must first leave NATO.
NATO has been a formalised mechanism for American governance of Europe. Over the past three years, the Biden administration sharply exacerbated relations with Russia and forced Europe to war with it through Ukraine. Thus, Washington has only strengthened the ties of its allies in NATO and its leading role in the alliance. Nothing unites like having a common enemy.
It is obvious that the new US administration does not see Europeans as strategically autonomous - neither together nor separately.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation about NATO, the US presence in Europe and Europe’s alleged lack of sovereignty. Pro-Kremlin outlets often portray European states as vassals, puppet states or colonies of the US and NATO.
NATO is a collective defence alliance where decisions are adopted through consultation and consensus, including the deployment of US troops in the territory of member states. Countries decide to join NATO not to be “under US control”, but on a voluntary basis to receive the protection of the alliance, as the cases of Sweden and Finland have shown.
NATO member countries don’t serve US goals but have their own agency, as proven by multiple episodes of disagreements inside the alliance, such as the refusal of Germany, France and other countries to let it take part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 against US wishes or, more recently, Hungary and Turkey’s obstruction to Sweden and Finland joining the block.
Countries apply, according to their own democratic procedures, to become NATO-members, the organisation does not "expand" or "swallow" countries.
The EU is not at war with Russia. Since Russia launched its unjustified aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the West has been calling for Russian withdrawal from Ukraine and a peaceful settlement. Some EU member states the US and other G7 nations are providing Ukraine with military and technical assistance to help it repel Russia's aggression and restore its sovereignty over its internationally recognised borders of 1991.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that NATO is Washington’s territorial expansion mechanism, that NATO became US armed wing ensuring the control of energy resources, that Europe has become a US military and political colony, that Russia should negotiation only with Washington because 90 percent of NATO is the US, that Europe is happy with being cannon fodder for the US, that Europe is occupied by the US and has limited sovereignty, that NATO is serving one master - the US, and the EU is directed by Washington.