DISINFO: The Polish ruling class listens to “popes” Biden and Johnson instead of Pope Francis

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

DISINFO: The Polish ruling class listens to “popes” Biden and Johnson instead of Pope Francis

SUMMARY

Recently, Pope Francis repeatedly criticised the countries that are increasing their defence budgets. Meanwhile, a declarative Polish Catholic (from the ruling party of declarative Catholics) says it straight: we will arm ourselves to the teeth. These people cannot hear the Pope, the head of their Church. They hear other popes named Biden and Johnson – the political “popes” of the Polish ruling class.

RESPONSE

This message is a part of the Kremlin’s widespread disinformation narrative about militaristic anti-Russian Poland, fully subordinated to the will of Biden and Boris Johnson.

The Polish authorities develop the Polish Army and increase the defensive capacities of their country not because “they do not want to hear Pope Francis”, but because of increasing security threats coming from Russia.

The ongoing modernisation of the Polish Army and purchases of advanced military equipment is a Polish response to the current security crisis taking place in Eastern Europe – this situation is a result of the Russian annexation of Crimea and military aggression against Ukraine.

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).

See other messages promoting the statement that Poland is not a sovereign statePoland is not perceived as a country with an independent foreign policy and Poland is governed by the US Embassy.

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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