US Withdraws from Europe Anti-Disinformation Pact

The United States has notified European allies of its decision to withdraw from recently established memorandums of understanding aimed at jointly combating disinformation campaigns from Russia, China, and Iran. These agreements, initiated under the Biden administration and coordinated by the State Department's Global Engagement Center (GEC), sought to unify Western efforts in tracking and debunking hostile foreign narratives that undermine democratic institutions and support for Ukraine. The termination of these agreements and the dismantling of the GEC mark a significant rollback in U.S. engagement in the information warfare front, drawing sharp criticism from James Rubin, the former head of the center, who described the move as a "unilateral act of disarmament" at a time when artificial intelligence is expected to exacerbate disinformation risks. European diplomats express concern that this withdrawal leaves a critical gap in coordinated responses ahead of upcoming elections and amid intensified influence operations by adversarial states. This shift aligns with President Donald Trump's broader policy direction, including the disbanding of agencies tasked with election integrity and foreign influence countermeasures in the U.S. The decision also follows reduced U.S. support for bolstering NATO members' armed forces along Russia's border, signaling a recalibration of American involvement in countering Russian aggression and information warfare.