DISINFO: The US needs NATO to keep the Europeans under their tight control
SUMMARY
Washington understands how bad is for NATO’s image if Turkey leaves. Both the Alliance and Turkey are extremely necessary, in the context of a clash of interests with Russia and China. But, first of all, the Americans need the block in order to keep the Europeans under their tight control.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about NATO as a tool used by the US to control the policies of European states. This narrative claims that almost all European countries are no longer truly sovereign and the United States dictates EU and member states' policies. On 4 April 1949, the foreign ministers from 12 countries, including the United States, signed the North Atlantic Treaty creating NATO. At the heart of the Alliance has always been the collective defence and security of all its members. All NATO decisions are made by consensus, after discussion and consultation among member countries. Allies decide whether to engage in a crisis management operation on a case-by-case basis and by consensus. NATO and US military presence in these states is possible only on the basis of the clear consent of the hosting nation. Similar disinformation narratives claim that NATO is a new type of US colonialism, that European élites obey Washington, and that EU and NATO member states are subordinate to the US and that NATO serves one master. Other cases allege that NATO is fully subordinate to the USA and Baltic states and that Moldova and Poland are "hostages" of NATO.