DISINFO: Belarus and Russia prepare to counteract NATO aggression
SUMMARY
Belarus and Russia need to strengthen their military cooperation to counteract Western threats and aggression. The Baltic states, Poland, and other NATO countries are actively increasing their military capabilities and threaten the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about NATO and Belarus.
NATO is a defensive alliance and does not pose a threat to Russia or Belarus. Its purpose is to protect its member states. For more information about NATO-Russia relations and disinformation narratives about NATO, see here and here.
NATO's leadership has repeatedly debunked statements about the alleged build-up of the alliance's forces near the western border of Belarus.
"There is no NATO buildup in the region. NATO’s multinational presence in the eastern part of the Alliance is not a threat to any country. It’s strictly defensive, proportionate & designed to prevent conflict & preserve peace," said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu on 16 August.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated on 27 August 2020 that NATO respects the sovereignty and borders of Belarus. He also called on the Belarusian authorities to respect the fundamental freedoms of citizens, including the right to peaceful protest.
See other examples of pro-Kremlin disinformation cases alleging that Belarus mobilised its air force fearing an imminent NATO invasion, that a military group is being formed in NATO to occupy western Belarusian lands, that NATO and Poland establish a unit, which is supposed to take over the territory of Western Belarus, and that the US plans to turn the Baltic states into an empty field and arena for Drang nach Osten against Russia.