DISINFO: The Baltic States and Poland are the main provocateurs of Russophobia in Europe
SUMMARY
The conflict between the West and Russia is beneficial for the Baltic States and Poland. They will not stop being Russophobic because they are getting money for it. They are the main provocateurs of the Russophobic mood in Europe.
RESPONSE
A recurring narrative about Russophobia in the Baltic states and Poland.
The Baltic states and Poland are not Russophobic but these countries have clear security concerns linked to Russia. The source of concern is Russia's aggression toward neighbour countries and how it affected the security situation in the region in general.
The 2020 National Security Strategy of Poland states that the most serious security threat for this country is the neo-imperial policy of the authorities of the Russian Federation, pursued by means of military force (aggression against Georgia, illegal annexation of Crimea and military actions in eastern Ukraine).
The National Security Strategy 2017 of Lithuania notes:
“Capacity of the Russian Federation to use military and economic, energy, information and other non-military measures in combination against the neighbouring countries [...] is a challenge to the security of the Republic of Lithuania and the whole Euro-Atlantic community.”
The National Security Concepts of Latvia and Estonia follow a similar line, with the latter stressing that European security is affected by Russia’s increased military activity and aggressive behaviour.
Read our past analysis about Russophobia in the Baltic states and elsewhere The “Russophobia” Myth: Appealing to the Lowest Feelings and see similar examples of disinformation alleging that Poland and the US are promoting Russophobic hysteria or that Political establishment in the Baltic states, Poland and Ukraine are driven by Russophobia.