DISINFO: Bucharest Nine summit was a provocation against Russia
SUMMARY
NATO member states were threatening Russia during the Bucharest Nine summit.
RESPONSE
A recurring element of pro-Kremlin disinformation aiming to portray NATO as well as the summits and the assemblies of its political leaders as aggression, provocation or a threat against Russia.
The disinformation case refers to the Bucharest Nine Initiative that was launched by Poland and Romania in 2014 by the Presidents of the nine NATO countries. Its aim is to consolidate views on issues of interest in the Alliance for the participating nations and to support joint security projects. On the latest summit organised on May 10, 2021, US President Joe Biden also joined the Eastern European heads of state/government to discuss security issues.
The case above fails to provide any form of evidence as to why or how the outcome of the Bucharest Nine summit was threatening Russia's security, sovereignty or territorial integrity. What is more, all post-summit statements emphasised the need for joint defence, not offence.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg emphasised the need for a greater level of unity between Europe and the US. At the same time, the White House readout of the May 10 summit states:
"President Biden expressed his support for enhancing NATO’s deterrence and defense posture, as well as the importance of Allies increasing their resilience against harmful economic and political actions by our strategic competitors. In addition, he welcomed the opportunity to engage with these Allies."
While Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, the host of the summit, highlighted the need for more NATO troops on the Alliance's Eastern flank, no intentions were made or expressed towards a hostile or offensive action against Russia.
See other examples of disinformation about NATO in our database, such as its never-ending provocations, its attempts to block Moscow in its sphere of influence, that Military exercises, like Defender 2020, are directed against Russia, that the Sea Breeze exercises are directed against Russia, or NATO exercises in Estonia are an unfriendly message addressed to Russia.