DISINFO: The West and the US are creating outposts against Russia, using sanctions as “stick” to beat Russia
SUMMARY
The US (together with NATO) seeks to create military outposts near the borders with Russia. They are creating irritants for Moscow.
The Western countries, especially the US, rush to use sanctions as a “stick” to beat Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narratives claiming that NATO is encircling Russia, that NATO itself is the puppet of the US, and sanctions are tools against Russia.
NATO is a defensive alliance, whose primary aims are to maintain peace and safeguard the independence, security and territorial integrity of its members. Moreover, NATO poses no threat to Russia. During the Warsaw summit in July 2016, NATO has made it clear that “The Alliance does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to Russia”. This was also reaffirmed in the Brussels Summit Communiqué of 14 June 2021.
The US have no interest to provoke Russia or creating points of tension near the borders of Russia. Here is the official position of the US about relations with Russia:
The United States has long sought a full and constructive relationship with Russia. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States adopted a bipartisan strategy to facilitate cooperation on global issues and promote foreign investment and trade. The United States supported Russia’s integration into European and global institutions and a deepened bilateral partnership in security cooperation to reinforce the foundations of stability and predictability.
On the other hand, the aggressive behaviour of Russia toward its neighbours could not be ignored. The sanctions remain the main tool to react to Moscow's actions. The EU introduced a series of restrictive measures against Russia starting in 2014 as a response to the illegal annexation of Crimea and actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Sanctions were also imposed on Russian individuals over serious human rights violations, and the use of chemical weapons in the assassination attempt of Alexei Navalny.
For an overview of sanctions imposed by the US over Russia's 2014 invasion of Ukraine, malicious cyber activities and influence operations (including election interference), human rights abuses, use of a chemical weapon, weapons proliferation, illicit trade with North Korea, support to the governments of Syria and Venezuela, and use of energy exports as a coercive or political tool, see here.
See related cases: The West ordered terrorist attack in Kazakhstan to create hotbed at Russia’s border; NATO’s eastern expansion is a threat to Russia; “Russia must be destroyed” is an integral part US politics and ideology.