US rolls back fight against disinformation: Europe becomes target for Russia and China
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
The United States has withdrawn from joint efforts with Europe to combat disinformation from Russia, China, and Iran, ending the memorandums signed last year, according to the Financial Times.
The United States has informed its European partners that it is stepping back from joint efforts to counter disinformation spread by Russia, China, and Iran.
Last week, European countries received notice from the US State Department that the memorandums of understanding signed in 2023 under Joe Biden’s administration would be terminated. These agreements aimed to create a unified approach to identifying and exposing information attacks by foreign governments designed to sow chaos.
The decision comes as Donald Trump’s new administration dismantles a number of agencies tasked with protecting the integrity of US elections and countering foreign influence.
The memorandums were part of the initiative of the State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), which was responsible for combating propaganda from US adversaries and terrorist groups abroad.
Former GEC head James Rubin called the move a "unilateral act of disarmament" in the information war against Russia and China.
"Information warfare is the reality of our time, and artificial intelligence will only multiply the risks associated with it," he said.
On September 7, Trump said that European leaders would supposedly arrive in the United States this week to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. He did not provide details about which leaders would attend.
That same day, the US president also announced he was ready to move to the "second stage" of sanctions against Russia.
Bild reported Trump held a heated phone call with European leaders after the Coalition of the willing meeting in Paris, during which he accused EU countries of purchasing Russian oil.
