MOSCOW (RT) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has slammed EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell for his “racist” comments accusing Moscow of spreading false information during his state visit to Africa.
Borrell made the accusations as he announced the creation of a so-called intelligence sharing and “analysis center to combat disinformation and manipulation of foreign intelligence” as part of Europe’s plans to expand its involvement in Africa, Latin America and Asia.
He also accused Lavrov of “trying to spread lies” during his trip to African countries, stating that Mali and Eritrea were “easy countries” for Russians.
“This is coming from a man who cannot hide the racist nature of his worldview,” Lavrov said at a joint press conference after a meeting with Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.
“As you may recall, he recently said publicly and unashamedly that Europe was a blooming garden, and that he was, therefore, a gardener. And Europe was threatened by the jungle, the source of the threat, and the blooming garden should be more careful with the jungle and protect its well-being from its negative influence,” he added.
Lavrov said Western countries could not get rid of their “neocolonial instincts” yet, urging them to be “aware of the reality of the modern world and the need to be more modest”.
“We have nothing to hide and nothing to be ashamed of. We (the Soviet Union) were at the origins of the liberation of Africa from the colonial yoke,” he said.
In his remarks on Tuesday, Borrell said “disinformation experts” are to be deployed to EU offices around the world to counter what he described as false narratives allegedly spread by Russia and China.
“All our delegations will be equipped with experts on countering disinformation in many parts of the world in order to make our voice be heard better,” he said in Brussels.
He alleged that Russia’s spending to strengthen the country’s ability to create and spread its narrative and advance its plans has greatly exceeded European investments.
Europe has a history of colonial and imperial rule marked by abuse, persecution and exploitation in Africa.
Last February, the EU hosted more than 40 African leaders to Brussels in an effort to reassert its influence in the continent.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, left, and Malian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop.