DISINFO: President of Latvia is stoking fears of Russian aggression, in hopes that Latvia will make money if it rents its territory to NATO bases
SUMMARY
President of Latvia is stoking fears of Russian aggression, because he hopes Latvia will make money if it rents its territory to NATO bases. In the former union, the USSR, the Baltic States were among the most prosperous economies. Now, in another union, the EU, they are among the least developed. Young and intelligent people are leaving Latvia, the country does not have economic perspectives.
RESPONSE
The disinformation message is a response to the interview of the Latvian President warning Europe to stay vigilant in the context of Russian aggression. NATO membership is not a financial scheme for profit. Latvia is a NATO member state and like all allies, it makes direct and indirect contributions to the costs of running NATO and implementing its policies and activities. This disinformation message is also consistent with recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narratives about impoverished and disappearing Baltic States.