DISINFO: Finland is sinking after joining NATO

DISINFORMATION CASE DETAILS

  • Outlet: sputniknews.lat ( archive, original )
  • Date of publication: October 02, 2023
  • Article language(s): Spanish
  • Countries / regions discussed: Finland

DISINFO: Finland is sinking after joining NATO

SUMMARY

Finland is sinking because of having made two big mistakes: entering NATO and joining the anti-Russian policies of the Collective West that funds Ukraine’s regime with weapons and money. This has been admitted by Janne Kuusela, director-general for defense policy at Finland’s Ministry of Defense, who said: “Joining NATO is an expensive business, and supporting Ukraine is an expensive business, and there’s no end to that in sight”. Now Finland is realising the true cost of belonging to NATO.

RESPONSE

Recurring disinformation narrative attacking Finland’s NATO membership.

The claim that “Finland is sinking” is not backed by any evidence or data, as NATO’s costs will be easily integrated in Finland’s state budget. All this disinformation story appears to be based on a deliberate distortion of a New York Times article about the challenges to solve for Finland’s actual integration in NATO after so many years of self-reliance. The article includes the mentioned quote of Janne Kuusela, but it has a totally different meaning in its proper context and does not suggest any massive economic burden for the country, contrary to what this disinformation story alleges.

See other examples of similar disinformation narratives, such as claims that Finland is trying to start a world war by joining NATO, that Finland’s NATO membership aims to corner Russia, that Finns did not get a say on joining NATO, or that the irrational decision to join NATO will bring down the Finnish economy.

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.

    %s

      Your opinion matters!

      Data Protection Information *

        Subscribe to the Disinfo Review

        Your weekly update on pro-Kremlin disinformation

        Data Protection Information *

        The Disinformation Review is sent through Mailchimp.com. See Mailchimp’s privacy policy and find out more on how EEAS protects your personal data.

        🎵 Playlist