The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) presented the “Concept for Countering the Pernicious Influence of the Kremlin” (CMKI), the theses of which were published on the agency’s website. Within the framework of this program, it is planned to create “economic and democratic sustainability” in the target countries and to carry out activities to “level the Kremlin’s attempts to undermine a number of key institutions”.
“The United States has long held the view that a strong, prosperous, and free Europe is crucial to American strategic interests. The Russian government and its proxies seek to weaken US influence in the world and separate us from our allies and partners. They use subversive activities to reduce the credibility of the US commitment to Europe, undermine transatlantic unity and weaken European institutions and governments, ”the document says.
It is noted that the CMKI program was launched in accordance with the US National Security Strategy and the USAID mission, which is to “assist the authorities, civil society and the private sector in the partner countries on their way to self-sufficiency”. For the designated increase in the “sustainability” of target states, it is proposed to act in four directions: to counteract “efforts to undermine democratic institutions”, to fight “information manipulation”, and also to reduce the energy and economic “vulnerability” of countries.
In terms of strengthening democratic institutions, USAID plans to assist in strengthening civil society and holding “credible” elections. In particular, we are talking about creating tools for “reformist-minded leaders and civil society to combat corrupt government activities that Kremlin agents often use selectively in the strategic interests of Moscow.”
USAID also intends to sponsor local media and promote media literacy programs that “will help citizens recognize the Kremlin’s misinformation efforts.”
“To reduce Europe’s and Eurasian dependence on Russia, USAID’s assistance will include working with individual states to create an effective regulatory framework that will help grow and assist them in joining well-functioning local and regional energy markets. As part of these efforts, the agency is ready to support effective, independent regulatory bodies and strengthen the cybersecurity of regional energy enterprises, ”the document says.
In addition, it is planned to provide European and Eurasian partners with "assistance" in strengthening integration with Western economies, opening new markets for American business.
It is worth noting that, as examples to the four points of the “Concept,” USAID activities in Ukraine and Moldova, as well as in the Balkan countries, are presented. In particular, it talks about investments “in support of free and fair elections,” creating media structures, and changing the foreign trade balance of these countries in favor of exporting to Europe, and not to Russia.
"In Ukraine, USAID is funding the actions of the transmission system operator (Ukrenergo. - RT ) on the transition of power systems from synchronous connection with Russia to a new connection with Central Europe," the project says. Also referred to are the efforts of the agency to diversify gas supplies in Europe and Eurasia.
According to the head of the USAID Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs Brock Birman, the new system of countering the influence of the Kremlin "can be a source of inspiration for millions of Russians who longed for the freedom underlying human dignity."
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Almanac claims to Russia
Commenting on the presented concept of countering the Kremlin, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the very name of this program demonstrates: USAID is not aimed at creating an atmosphere of cooperation on the world stage, but is “an instrument of ideological struggle and propaganda treatment.”
“The term“ counteraction ”clumsily disguises an aggressive offensive approach. The concept is frankly aimed at planting Russophobia in the world, especially in our neighboring states, ”the Foreign Ministry stressed.
“Behind the desire to instill fear in our country, intimidation by an imaginary“ Russian intervention ”, there is a clear desire to subordinate them to US influence, to turn against Russia, including in order to force Europe to buy expensive American liquefied gas. In other words, in Washington, solving their geopolitical tasks, they are not averse to obtaining commercial benefits, ”the foreign ministry said.
They expressed disappointment at the fact that such a program of the government agency was sharply dissonant with the constructive tone of the recent meeting of the presidents of Russia and the United States at the G20 summit.
“It is obvious that influential Washington functionaries are trying with all their might to prevent normalization of Russian-American relations, to destroy them even more,” the Foreign Ministry said, reaffirming Moscow’s readiness to build constructive cooperation with the United States.
Anton Morozov, a member of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, in a conversation with RT, noted that Washington is taking similar actions in an attempt to maintain global domination. At the same time, the American authorities ignore the fact that the world is changing objectively and no longer wants to be unipolar.
“We, unlike the United States, never imposed our will, did not dictate how small countries build their domestic policies, but, on the contrary, always extended a helping hand and built relations on a mutually beneficial basis. Therefore, many European countries are turning towards Russia and are starting to follow our foreign policy agenda, ”the parliamentarian believes.
“Of course, this causes discontent in the United States, because they lose control, lose their dominant position in many countries and will oppose this,” added Morozov.
According to him, within the framework of such activities, Washington is actively using demagoguery and put forward similar baseless and unsubstantiated theses on the allegedly existing “Russian threat”.
In turn, political scientist Alexander Asafov stated that the published document fits perfectly into the logic of the struggle of the American political establishment with Russia.
“It contains all the claims of an absurd and manipulative nature, which one way or another are presented to Russia. Obviously, this concept is one of the documents explaining the need to increase funding for various organizations, institutions, people to fight Russia and fulfill the objectives of the United States, ”the expert noted.
The interlocutor of RT stressed that the speech is not only about political opposition, but also about providing unfair economic competition with such methods, and this directly follows from the text of CMKI.
“If we objectively analyze this situation, then all the measures referred to in the report are interference in the sovereign affairs of countries ... The United States demonstrates that they are going to determine the nature of power, to appoint leaders in different countries,” Asafov added.