Finland and the USA Will Enhance Information Exchange to Combat Russian and Chinese Disinformation

The USA and Finland have decided to collaborate in "countering foreign information manipulation." The respective memorandum was signed in Brussels during the NATO foreign ministers' summit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, as reported on the US State Department website.

"Foreign state information manipulation, including disinformation and propaganda, is a transnational security threat that can create or exploit divisions within and between countries, jeopardize the integrity of elections, and undermine public trust in government. Recognizing the threat to all democratic societies, the United States and Finland will expand information exchange on foreign disinformation," the statement reads.

Both sides have also agreed to exchange best practices in countering disinformation and align their strategy with the American concept of countering foreign information influence.

During a joint press briefing, Elina Valtonen emphasized that information manipulation is becoming an increasingly significant challenge for democratic countries and open societies.

Earlier, Antony Blinken warned that in 2024, voters and candidates in many countries would face a "wave of falsehoods" and disinformation due to rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and social media.

Blinken recalled detected disinformation campaigns by China and Russia, mentioning the State Department's 2023 report, which highlighted China's billion-dollar spending on propaganda and suppression of Western media.

He also mentioned Russia's scheme of informational influence in Latin America, where, according to Blinken, a hidden Kremlin campaign was exposed to undermine support for Ukraine in the Western Hemisphere, including presenting Russian content as organic through Latin American media outlets.

Additionally, it's worth noting that during the visit of Finland's newly elected President Alexander Stubb to Ukraine, The Gaze reported that the two sides signed a bilateral security agreement. With this document, Finland formalized its readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in countering Russian aggression, committed to providing long-term military and financial aid, and deepening cooperation with our country in political, financial, humanitarian areas, and reform efforts. Specifically, Finland will assist Ukraine in restoring the energy sector, assessing environmental damage, strengthening border and critical infrastructure protection, and providing medical treatment for Ukrainian servicemen.