Old NATO anniversary video falsely recast online as war propaganda against Russia
Accounts sharing pro-Kremlin narratives are presenting a 2024 NATO anniversary video as proof the alliance is preparing the public for war with Russia, though the footage was made for an unrelated occasion. The claim spreads amid genuine European warnings about rising Russian hybrid threats.
A video circulating widely online is being described by various accounts as NATO "propaganda" meant to prepare people for an imminent war with Russia. France24's fact-checking segment Truth or Fake found the footage is not new and has simply been stripped of its real context.
The video was originally published by NATO on its official social media accounts in July 2024 to mark the alliance's 75th anniversary, ahead of a summit held in Washington. It has since been downloaded and recirculated without that context, presented instead as evidence of war preparation against Moscow.
Among those sharing the clip was the Russian embassy in the Netherlands, which accused NATO of trying to "inspire the youth to be ready to die for the elites." In the United States, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones further amplified the video, adding unrelated claims about its depiction of diversity.
Genuine tensions persist
While the video itself is being misrepresented, actual tensions between NATO and Russia have been rising. European leaders have increasingly pointed to what they describe as Russian hybrid threats, including suspected drone, cyber and sabotage activity, and have questioned whether Moscow is testing the alliance's resolve to back Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said last week that intelligence suggested Russia could be planning drone and missile strikes against Poland and other countries on NATO's eastern flank. French President Emmanuel Macron has also warned of escalating Russian hybrid attacks, ordering plans to protect critical infrastructure, and cited a drone incident at Germany's Leipzig airport that German officials linked to Russia.
Other recent incidents include NATO jets shooting down a Russian drone that entered Lithuanian airspace, and a Russian warship accused of firing flares at a Danish military helicopter.
