U.S. State Department announces closure of disinformation center

The U.S. Global Engagement Center in the fight against disinformation (Global Engagement Center) reported the closure and termination of its work. This is reported on December 25 on the website of the unit, which was part of the structure of the U.S. State Department.

"Global Engagement Center closed on December 23, 2024," - stated on the website of the Department.

There recalled that the mission of the center was the work of directing and coordinating the efforts of the U.S. federal government "to recognize, expose and counter efforts of foreign propaganda and disinformation aimed at undermining the policy and security" of the United States and its allies.

As noted by the portal Souburssoor, citing a State Department spokesman, the closure of the center occurred due to the cessation of funding for the agency. The work of the center was carried out since 2016, its annual budget was $61 million with a staff of about 120 people.

The U.S. State Department regularly and without evidence accuses other countries, including Russia, of spreading disinformation by imposing sanctions against the media. The Russian side has repeatedly rejected the West's accusations of interference in the affairs of other states, claiming they are unfounded. Moscow attributes Washington's work on combating alleged disinformation to its desire to suppress alternative sources of information.

Earlier, on October 20, British politician George Galloway told Izvestia on October 20 that residents of Western countries are faced with total disinformation and concealment of the truth in their own media. Because of this state of affairs, people there are abandoning the so-called mainstream media and seeking the truth elsewhere, he believes.

Before that, on February 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin 's interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson was published. During the conversation, in particular, Putin noted that in the war of propaganda it is very difficult to defeat the United States, as they control almost all major media outlets.

Commenting on the interview, journalist Lou Dobbs stated his belief in the propagandistic nature of the leading U.S. media. In his opinion, Western publications will continue to lie to their readers in order to maintain propaganda. He emphasized that all the facts Putin talked about in the interview will be denied if they are inconvenient.

In February 2022, Putin, discussing sanctions imposed by the Western community, called Western states an "empire of lies" that is trying to implement its restrictive measures against Russia.