US pressed EU states and Canada over Vilnius disinformation conference, Politico reports
In short
The US State Department put pressure on diplomats from some EU countries and Canada over their participation in an annual disinformation conference in Vilnius, after organisers announced sessions describing the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI), RIA Novosti reported, citing diplomatic correspondence. RIA Novosti said Canada and Lithuania declined to take part, while RBC, citing Politico, said they withdrew their support for the event after contacts with the United States.
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The US State Department put pressure on diplomats from some European Union countries and Canada over their participation in a disinformation conference in Vilnius, RIA Novosti reported, citing diplomatic correspondence. RBC, citing Politico, reported that Donald Trump's administration pressed the EU, Canada and Lithuania over their participation, and that Canada and Lithuania withdrew their support for the event after contacts with the United States. [ 1 , 3 ]
According to RIA Novosti, the pressure followed the organisers' announcement of discussions that class the United States as an "external threat". The annual international conference on countering disinformation is taking place this week, and its programme includes sessions describing the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI). Two American researchers and a former CIA employee are taking part in one such discussion. [ 1 ]
"The State Department asked some of these countries, but not all, to reconsider participating in the event," RIA Novosti quoted the publication as saying. RIA Novosti reported that Canada and Lithuania declined to take part in the conference. Cables were also sent to US embassies in France, Norway, Romania and Poland, instructing diplomats to tell their hosts orally, not in writing, that the United States was displeased with the announced sessions. Officials from these countries are still on the conference's list of participants, according to RIA Novosti. [ 1 ]
TASS, citing Politico, reported that the United States had put the EU in an awkward position at the conference, and that representatives of the EU and Canada had raised the question of threats coming from the United States. [ 2 ]
RIA Novosti noted that US authorities have repeatedly accused Europe of failing to respect freedom of speech and of excessive censorship. In February, at the 61st Munich Security Conference, US Vice President JD Vance expressed concern that this trend was undermining the internal stability of European states and calling into question the foundations of cooperation between the United States and Europe, RIA Novosti reported. [ 1 ]
Why it matters
The reports describe a dispute between Washington and allies in the EU and Canada over a conference programme that lists the United States among sources of foreign information manipulation. RIA Novosti placed the episode alongside repeated US accusations that Europe fails to respect freedom of speech and practises excessive censorship.
Key facts
- The US State Department put pressure on diplomats from some EU countries and Canada over their participation in a disinformation conference in Vilnius. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The conference programme includes sessions describing the United States as an actor of "foreign information manipulation and interference" (FIMI). [ 1 ]
- Two American researchers and a former CIA employee take part in one such discussion. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti said Canada and Lithuania declined to take part in the conference; RBC said they withdrew their support for it. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Cables were also sent to US embassies in France, Norway, Romania and Poland, telling diplomats to convey US displeasure orally, not in writing. [ 1 ]
- Officials from France, Norway, Romania and Poland are still on the conference's list of participants. [ 1 ]
- TASS and RBC attributed the report to Politico. [ 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The United States put pressure on EU countries and Canada over their participation in the disinformation conference in Vilnius. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Canada and Lithuania pulled back from the conference: RIA Novosti said they declined to take part, RBC said they withdrew their support. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The conference programme includes sessions describing the United States as an actor of foreign information manipulation and interference. [ 1 ]
- US embassies in France, Norway, Romania and Poland received cables instructing diplomats to tell their hosts orally that the United States was displeased with the sessions. [ 1 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Canada and Lithuania withdrew from the conference entirely or only withdrew their support for it. RIA Novosti says they declined to take part; RBC says they withdrew their support for the event.
- Which EU countries the State Department asked to reconsider participation. The report says some, but not all, countries were asked, and the documents do not name all of them.
- The US State Department's own account of the contacts. No document quotes the State Department; the reports rely on Politico and diplomatic correspondence.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports US pressure on EU countries and Canada over the Vilnius conference. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports, citing Politico, that the United States put the EU in an awkward position at the conference. [ 2 ]
- RBC reports, citing Politico, that Canada and Lithuania withdrew support for the event after contacts with the United States. [ 3 ]