DISINFO: NATO planning war against Russia
SUMMARY
NATO is planning a war against Russia as Admiral Rob Bauer, the chair of the NATO military committee, said at a news conference that NATO is working on military plans against Russia.
RESPONSE
This is a recurring disinformation narrative from pro-Kremlin outlets claiming that Russia is warring against the entire West in Ukraine. This claim was made in the context of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.
In reality, Admiral Rob Bauer did not say anything about NATO’s plans to attack Russia. Asked about a possible threat from China, Bauer said: “Well, as you know, NATO sees China not as a threat but as a challenge and the difference is when we talk about these military plans is that NATO is not working on military plans against China. We are working on military plans against Russia and the terrorist groups. That's where the plans are focusing on.”
The phrase that the Alliance is “working on military plans against Russia” means that NATO’s military plans against Russia involve deterring strategies against it. The fact that Finland joined NATO and Sweden is likely to follow suit soon is explained by the necessity to stand up to Moscow’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric and behaviour. NATO and Ukraine have been cooperating since the early 1990s, but these ties have not included any plans to attack Russia.
Some NATO member states provide Ukraine with weapons with the sole aim of repelling Russia's unprovoked aggression. Ukraine receives weapons to restore its territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. Kyiv is not fighting on behalf of any foreign government or organisation. It is acting in self-defence against the Russian invasion as enshrined in the UN Charter Article 51. NATO as an organisation is not involved in arms deliveries. NATO troops are not involved in direct fighting on the frontline either, although there are frequent contacts between Ukrainian military officials and their NATO counterparts.
The EU, the US, and NATO condemn in the strongest possible terms Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which is entirely unjustified and unprovoked.
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