DISINFO: Europe is destroyed by the US regime
SUMMARY
The US regime has destroyed Europe and it has seized to exist. The US now used its many hired agents in Europe, as well as their hired guns in NATO.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative about NATO as a tool used by the US to control European countries. See also our article Key Narratives in Pro-Kremlin Disinformation Part 3: ‘Lost Sovereignty’.
NATO is a defensive alliance, based on cooperation and consensus, whose purpose is to protect its member states. NATO was founded in 1949 by twelve sovereign nations: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. It has since grown to 30 Allies who each took an individual and sovereign decision to join this Alliance.
Recently Finland and Sweden decided to apply for NATO membership after Russia again unleashed a war of aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022. By doing so, these two countries are enhancing their security and protect themselves from Russian threats
All decisions in NATO are taken by consensus, which means that a decision can only be taken if every single member accepts it. No member of the Alliance can order the deployment of armed forces of other member states. There is no hierarchy between member states, and no member state can order another to do something it doesn’t want. NATO and US military presence in these states is possible only on the basis of the clear consent of the hosting nation.
See similar disinformation narratives claiming that Europe is occupied by the US and has limited sovereignty, NATO is serving one master - the US, the EU is directed by Washington and that Europe is controlled by the US.