Ben Wakefield

• Specialist Senior Advisor UK Gov • Fellow @RGS_IBG • Former @BSPH_CHS, @ChathamHouse, ELBI 2020, UCL, Lboro & UTS • Views = me • Personal acccount

[Ben Wakefield @BCWakefield]

A privilege to host and present our @OPCW side event supported by @CanadaOPCW today, highlighting the purpose of our @GPctrDisinfo Initiative, recent analysis from the team on chemical weapons disinformation, and personal insights on the impact of CW disinformation.

#CSP29

[The Royal Family @RoyalFamily]

This evening, His Majesty The King received the President of Ukraine, @ZelenskyyUa, at Sandringham House. 🇺🇦

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

With the conclusion of #CSP29, revisit our three in-depth analyses exposing Russia's strategic use of #disinformation on #ChemicalWeapons.

Read our analyses here: https://t.co/4cSr1KyoOc

[Jean Pascal Zanders @JPZanders]

#ChemicalWeapons #OPCW #CSP29 @GPWMDofficial @jhsph_chs

Excellent session yesterday (27/11) on #disinformation and how to counter it organised by @CanadaOPCW.

Yesterday and today have been the worst moments in my memory of spouting vile disinformation. This included that Syria NEVER used CW, the West is financing fundamentalist Islamic terrorists in Syria, the #UK is training up to 100,000 terrorists, and the West and the UK (it depended on the moment) were delivering CW or their components to those terrorists for use against Syria, etc.

I do not even mention #Russia's "evidence" that the same West is providing #Ukraine️ with CW for use against it. Or that the #EU's #sanctions prevent Russia from exporting manure (literally: shit) to Africa. (In its right of reply, the EU said that manure and food are excluded from its sanctions.)

But the most vile accusations are against the OPCW for carrying out its #CWC mandates to investigate allegations of CW use and identify perpetrators (Verification Annex, Part XII). They quite literally undermine the authority of the organisation and the norm it protects.

Yet, those same states (#Belarus included) praise that same organisation when it comes to securing their rights under Article XI, which, so they say, the West violates with its export controls.

It all falls so neatly in the disinformation taxonomy that was presented yesterday.

[NoChemLen @LenP91535865]

The OPCW tells RF that perpetuating the use of CW excludes you from a seat on the EC.

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

Today our team is co-hosting an official @OPCW Side-Event at #CSP29 on countering chemical weapons disinformation with @GAC_Corporate, highlighting our team’s analysis, as well as country perspectives from Canada and @GermanyDiplo.

Please join us at 13:15 in the Oceania 2 Room.

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

(1/3) New analysis by @GPWMDoffical Initiative to Counter CBRN #disinformation shows that Russian #ChemicalWeapons #disinformation narratives have been strategically timed to coincide with Russia’s military escalations in Ukraine.

[Ben Wakefield @BCWakefield]

Tomorrow at 13:15 at @OPCW #CSP29 I'll be speaking alongside colleagues from @CanadaOPCW, @GermanyDiplo and @GPctrDisinfo on countering chemical weapons disinformation.

Come along to Oceania 2 to hear more and to engage with this initiative.

[Ben Wakefield @BCWakefield]

At @OPCW #CSP29 supporting the work of the @GPctrDisinfo Initiative this week!

In preparation, our team produced this 'CW primer', to help stakeholders identify & understand the tactics, narratives & motivations that underpin malicious CW disinformation.

https://t.co/aaBPooamZ4

[Doreen Horschig @doreen__h]

Not only are nuclear norms crumbling: the chemical weapons norm needs strengthening, too. My @CSIS colleague @NatashaHallDC and I argue that next week's #CSP29 provides a valuable opportunity to do that.

@csisponi @CSISDefense @UCF_SPSIA

https://t.co/6BFWrCK680

[Ben Wakefield @BCWakefield]

Finally made the leap over to @bluesky! You can find me at https://t.co/gXOBMjRlyA

[Canada at OPCW @CanadaOPCW]

For over 2 years, #Ukraine has accused Russia of violating the #CWC. @OPCW now confirms that they found #RiotControlAgents in a used grenade collected following a Russian attack against a Ukrainian trench. #OPCW States Parties must hold Russia to account for its CWC violations.

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

(1/8) Claims of a Ukrainian nuclear weapons programme have been an enduring disinformation narrative since before the 2022 invasion.

A 13 November article in The Times contributed to this narrative by failing to accurately characterize a think tank report that was itself flawed.

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

This week our team is briefing #UNSGM-rostered experts on #disinformation to support potential investigations into allegations of #bioweapons use. If you too want to learn about #CBRN disinformation, start with our videos and briefs, available at https://t.co/utTziiIXul

[Mike Martin MP 🔸 @ThreshedThought]

The UK immediately needs to:

- Increase defence spending rapidly (rather than shrinking its army)
- Focus its military strategy on deterring Russian aggression in Europe (rather than confronting ‘global threats’)
- Work with European allies to defend Europe under a NATO that doesn’t have US support (rather than assuming that America guarantees European security).

Anything less would be a government dereliction of duty.

[Ben Wakefield @BCWakefield]

Excellent thread on the strategic threats posed by Russia, particularly with regard to the role of the war in Ukraine.

[Mike Martin MP 🔸 @ThreshedThought]

There is a lot going on in the news at the moment, but there is a story that is consistently being underreported: Russia.

A 🧵

(potentially with 🖍️)

[Ben Wakefield @BCWakefield]

A new briefing document highlighting the link between the expansion of the Sergiev Posad-6 facility that @washingtonpost detailed and the increase in bioweapons disinformation targeted at Ukraine and its NATO allies as part of Russia's illegal war in Ukraine.

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

Our latest analysis explains the link between recent upgrades at the Russian Sergiev Posad-6 military high-containment biological research facility and the increase in malicious #bioweapons #disinformation focused on Ukraine. Read the briefing here: https://t.co/d2BuLHjEAf

[Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office @FCDOGovUK]

We have sanctioned Russian disinformation agencies who seek to undermine Ukraine.

We have exposed the 'Social Design Agency' (SDA) for trying to incite anti-Ukraine protests across Europe.

Our new sanctions also hit three leaders directing operations.

We #StandWithUkraine

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

Today @washingtonpost broke the story of the development of a new Russian military BSL-4 high-containment laboratory. This lab was built on the Sergiev Posad-6 site, which was a key facility in the Soviet Union’s #bioweapons programme. (1/3)
https://t.co/bG3fmJpPqf

[GP WMD Counter Disinfo @GPctrDisinfo]

In the lead up to the @OPCW Conference of States Parties, we are anticipating a rise in malicious chemical weapons disinformation.

Our team put together these key points to help you stay aware of disinfo tactics, to recognize these campaigns, and better understand the CW space.