G7 to step up response to counter Russian ‘propaganda’, Dominic Raab says

The British foreign secretary said London was ‘getting the G7 to come together with a rapid rebuttal mechanism’ to tackle Russian misinformation

Britain has identified Moscow as the biggest threat to its security though it views Beijing as its greatest long-term challenge

Reading Time:2 minutes

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: BBC via Reuters

Published: 9:31pm, 2 May 2021Updated: 9:30pm, 2 May 2021

The Group of Seven richest countries will look at a proposal to build a rapid response mechanism to counter Russian “propaganda” and disinformation, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.

Speaking ahead of a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in London, the first such in-person meeting for two years, Raab said the UK was “getting the G7 to come together with a rapid rebuttal mechanism” to counter Russian misinformation.

“So that when we see these lies and propaganda or fake news being put out there, we can – not just individually, but come together to provide a rebuttal and frankly to provide the truth, for the people of this country but also in Russia or China or around the world,” Raab said.

Russia and China are trying to sow mistrust across the West, whether by spreading disinformation in elections or by spreading lies about Covid-19 vaccines, according to British, US and European security officials.

Russia denies it is meddling beyond its borders and says the West is gripped by anti-Russian hysteria. China says the West is a bully and that its leaders have a post-imperial mindset that makes them feel they can act like global policemen.

Britain has identified Russia as the biggest threat to its security though it views China as its greatest long-term challenge, militarily, economically and technologically.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x