DISINFO: The West breaks global order by sanctions and conflicts
SUMMARY
The West is hypocritical regarding globalisation. It publicly advocates an open economy, but it immediately forgets about its own principles when it comes to dealing with competitors. Western elites are artificially slowing down and restraining growth in what they consider to be a global periphery which they treat like a colony and use as a source of rent. They resort to sanctions and restrictions, they shake political situations and provoke conflicts in entire macro-regions.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that the European Union, the United States and other G7 nations are striving for world dominance. This claim was made in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Globalisation is a political, economic and social phenomenon turning the world into an interconnected place with mutually dependent countries, which will hopefully lead to global prosperity and reduction of poverty. It is one the features of the free world.
Sanctions do not contradict free economic principles. In the case of Russia, they are a legitimate tool for enforcing it to keep in line with international law. Initially, the EU imposed sanctions on the Russian Federation in 2014 in the wake of its illegal annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. More sanctions have been imposed since Moscow launched its unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. The sanctions have targeted both Russian organisations and certain individuals closely linked to the Kremlin. The United States and other countries have also slapped restrictions on Russia as punishment for its aggressive behaviour in the international arena.
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas are the two bloodiest ongoing conflicts which the EU has been trying to settle since their outbreak. EU leaders have made multiple attempts to solve the Russia-Ukraine war with a just settlement since its very beginning, but Russia has been opposed to dialogue. The EU has been making attempts for mediation in the Middle East as well. The European Parliament strongly condemns Hamas’ terrorist attacks and recognised Israel’s right to defend itself in compliance with international humanitarian law. The European Union also condemns Hamas for using hospitals and civilians as "human shields".
Read similar disinformation cases claiming that Western countries intended to provoke a conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, that Conflicts in Ukraine and Israel are Western proxy wars, and that Anglo-Saxons pushing the Middle East into a major war.