DISINFO: Polish authorities carry out the American will regarding LNG, Ukraine and Belarus
SUMMARY
The recent anti-Russian publication of the RAND Corporation (“Extending Russia. Competing from Advantageous Ground”) shows that the United States wants to turn Poland into a tool of fight with the import of Russian gas to Europe and its replacement with the American LNG. The government of the Law and Justice Party is realizing this strategy in a desperate way – purchasing expensive American gas, promoting the US LNG among other countries of the region, and sabotaging investments into pipelines connecting Europe and Russia.
The next sphere mentioned in the RAND Report is the support of the anti-Russian processes taking place in Ukraine – the Report shows that Washington can count on the Warsaw “hawks” regarding this issue. Finally, Poland can get involved in the process of regime change in Belarus. Both in terms of Ukraine and Belarus, the Polish authorities implement the tasks promoted by the USA in a loyal way.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the US presence in Europe, suggesting that the United States fully controls the foreign, defense and energy policy of Poland. See other examples of this message here, here and here.
The statement that the United States entirely shapes the energy policy of Poland and its foreign policy regarding Ukraine and Belarus is a conspiracy theory; it is also a part of a recurring disinformation narrative which questions any attempts at diversifying energy sources, if this means buying gas from other sources than Russia.
First of all, Poland is a sovereign state, which forms its own foreign and domestic policies.
Secondly, the purchase of the American LNG is a sovereign decision of Poland as it strengthens the energy security of this country.
Thirdly, the Polish policy towards Ukraine and Belarus is not shaped by external forces (USA), but by Polish authorities – Poland is a sovereign state with its own foreign policy, so it does not “promote the American tasks” in Ukraine and Belarus.
RAND Corporation is a large American nonprofit global policy think tank, which is financed by the US government, private corporations, universities, and individual endowments. Besides security and international issues, RAND has numerous areas of expertise, such as civil and criminal justice, education, health, infrastructure, energy, environment, population and regional studies, science and technology, social welfare, etc.
The RAND regularly publishes reports on the military and security aspects of relations with Russia (see the recent report “Extending Russia. Competing from Advantageous Ground”).
The report described in the disinformation message mentions Poland mainly in connection to the Polish LNG facilities (increase in import of the US LNG to the region); increasing US military presence in Eastern and Central Europe (suggestion to deploy more US troops in Poland) and more active manifestation of NATO presence in Poland (military exercises taking place on the territory of this country).