The UK has condemned Russian state-owned media for spreading “disinformation” about Boris Johnson’s health. Russian state media reported that Boris Johnson was immediately put on a ventilator.
In an article by the state-run Russian news agency RIA Novosti „ Источник: Джонсона подключат к ИВЛ“posted on 06.04.2020, it is claimed that Johnson was “urgently” hospitalized and put on ventilator because of the corona virus. In the article they states that Johnson was urgently hospitalised.
The agency claimed its source was close to the leadership of the national health system in the UK.
The story was spread across several russian sites. Sputnik published an article in which it claimed that Johnson will be put on a ventilator, as their source informed them, but during the day it supplemented the article with the official denial from Johnson’s spokesperson.
Link to the original article here.
The article was re-shared by the following media: Republika, Netpress, Infomax, Vecer, Sloboden pecat, Faktor, МТМ.мк,
Makfax, Ekran.mk, 24info, Puls24, Tratur, Expres.mk, Makedonski vesnik.
This is a disinformation. It was quickly intercepted by the British government. The UK government on 06.04.2020 accused Russia of spreading “disinformation” about Prime Minister Boris Johnson. According to them, their special Government task force noticed increase of fake news and false narratives since the beginning of the outbreak.
According to the spokesperson, they will put strong pressure on social platforms and their companies to intercept fake narratives and prevent their spreading.
Additionally, today, 07.04.2020, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stated that Johnson’s health was stable and that he was receiving “standard oxygen treatment” meaning that he was breathing without assistance.
Johnson was admitted in hospital on Sunday, after he was tested positive on the coronavirus.
Johnson’s spokesman accused Russia for spreading disinformation, after Russian state media claimed that Johnson was placed on a ventilator. He explicitly denied these claims.
“That is disinformation,” his spokesman said. “The prime minister had a comfortable night in Thomas’s Hospital in London, and is in good spirits”, the spokesperson said.
The British Prime Minister shared his position on his health condition on his official Twitter account:Source: Info Center for Euro-Atlantic Integration.
As we can see, in 2002, 2003 and 2005 the defense budget was over 2% of GDP, and in 2007 it was 1.91%. From 2008 to 2017, the defense budget fell sharply, reaching a record low of 0.93%. For 2020, the defense budget is projected at 1.4% of GDP, i.e. 10,133 billion denars (164.76 million euros). But that money does not flow from the state, but stays in.
But what is 2% of GDP? The money would be invested in improving barracks conditions, modernizing equipment and mechanization in line with NATO standards, in rapid response and rescue equipment, and investing in exercises to increase the military’s (interoperability) capability so that troops can participate in NATO missions, increase investment in cyber security and more. Also, in the allocated 2% of GDP, the salaries of the employees, equipment and means of work of the administrative-technical and military personnel are calculated, and with some of the money the combat and non-combat equipment of the army will be modernized, food will be provided for the army and spare parts. The investment in the equipment has a dual purpose, civilian and military, and the same equipment can be used in humanitarian and rescue missions and operations.
The country, without any problems, has financially withstood larger defense budgets over the past decade. In 2009, in conditions of global economic crisis, a budget of over 2% was envisaged, but with the supplementary budget it was reduced to 1.64%, a percentage that is still higher than the one that is allocated this year.
It is not true that US President Donald Trump insists on mandatory compliance with the minimum threshold of 2%. President Trump has only reaffirmed the Allies’ commitment to fulfilling this commitment made in 2006 and 2014. At the NATO Summit in Wales 2014, among other things, the following was agreed:
Allies currently allocating at least 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) for defense to continue to do so;
Allies whose defense budget is below this will aim to reach the 2% threshold within a decade.. Earlier, former US President Barack Obama, as well as former Prime Minister of United Kingdom and Northern Ireland David Cameron, called on allies to increase their defense spending.
It is not true that “countries rarely respect ” the provision of allocating 2% of GDP for defense. A total of 7 countries allocate over 2% of GDP for defense, and another 8 are close to achieving that threshold. However, all NATO member states, including the Republic of North Macedonia, have an obligation to reach that threshold by 2024. In addition, an overview of the national defense budgets of NATO member states expressed in % of GDP:
