In the era of digital news and social media, news travels fast. But fake news travels faster and wider. This was recently illustrated by the extensive coverage regarding the UAE’s purported suspension of its historic Rafale agreement in light of “supposed” diplomatic strains with France.
The arrest of Telegram founder and owner Pavel Durov has triggered a spate of conspiracy theories and disinformation campaigns on the internet. Amid the prevailing confusion in the wake of the high-profile arrest, which has allegedly ruffled some feathers in the UAE due to Durov’s Emirati citizenship, a doctored video surfaced on social media.
The doctored social media video—falsely linked to Al Jazeera—claimed that the UAE had decided to cancel its deal with France for 80 Rafale fighter jets. The report stated that the decision was based on a diplomatic fallout between the two countries following Durov’s arrest.
Additionally, media reports added that, in light of Durov’s detention, military-technical cooperation between the Emirati Kingdom and France could totally cease. The report also asserted that the UAE had requested consular access to Durov.
French media busted these reports and claims as “fake news.” FRANCE 24’s Vedika Bahl debunked the claims, and some French reporters stated that pro-Russian bloggers published and shared the video as part of a disinformation campaign. At the time of publishing this report, the Russian government had yet to comment on these accusations.
Perpetrators have fabricated a fake video purporting to be from Al Jazeera, claiming that the UAE has rejected a deal for 80 Rafale jets with France.
The disinformation campaign began around 8:00 PM Moscow time with a leak on certain dubious Telegram channels. From there, the… pic.twitter.com/VXWOOeFBfk
— Maria Dubovikova (@politblogme) August 28, 2024
The UAE or the French government did not take cognizance of these claims which generated widespread frenzy among netizens and military observers.
Several netizens believed the reports prima facie. One user named Kim Dot Com wrote on X: “The French Govt just lost $17 billion over the arrest of Pavel Durov. The UAE froze a deal to purchase 80 Rafale fighter jets and says that the arrest of Pavel Durov is outrageous. Pavel is a citizen of the UAE and a close friend of Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan Al Maktoum.”
Incidentally, EurAsian Times discovered that several accounts on X shared extensively the same text without any legitimate news sources.
As the claims started being busted on social media, several netizens and military analysts observed that such disinformation has the potential to damage ties between states, especially as it comes in the wake of a very fragile situation unfolding in France.
The French Govt just lost $17 billion over the arrest of Pavel Durov. The UAE froze a deal to purchase 80 Rafale fighter jets and says that the arrest of Pavel Durov is outrageous. Pavel is a citizen of the UAE and a close friend of the Deputy Prime Minister Hamdan Al Maktoum.
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) August 28, 2024
All of this started with the Telegram founder’s arrest on August 24. Following a court investigation initiated last month regarding 12 alleged criminal activities involving his widely recognized Telegram application, the 39-year-old Russian national Durov was apprehended at Paris-Le Bourget Airport in France.
Durov was born in Russia, yet he spent much of his formative years in Italy. He holds citizenship in the United Arab Emirates, France, Russia, and the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
Contrary to the claims in media reports, the UAE has given a measured response to the situation. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on August 27 that it was “closely following” Durov’s case and that it had “submitted a request to the French government to provide him with all consular services urgently.”
“Caring for citizens, preserving their interests, following up on their affairs, and providing them with all aspects of care is a top priority for the UAE,” the ministry added, without making any incendiary remarks against the French government.
On the other hand, the Russian government representatives have voiced their displeasure over Durov’s incarceration, accusing it of being politically motivated and evidence of the West’s double standards when it comes to free speech. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said ties between Russia and France are at their “lowest” point since Durov’s detention.
On the contrary, the relationship between the UAE and France is quite stable and on an upward trajectory, especially since the kingdom signed a historic deal in 2021 to purchase Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation.
UAE’s Rafale Purchase On Track
The UAE signed a “historic contract” with France’s Dassault Aviation to buy 80 Rafale F4 jets in December 2021. This was the largest-ever export deal for the French warplane, and it was signed as French President Emmanuel Macron began a two-day tour of the Gulf, where he will also visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
With this deal, the UAE will be the first country after France to operate the Rafale F4 variant. The contract signed with the UAE represents the largest contract for the sale of Rafale aircraft to any nation to date.
In April 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made the first down payment to acquire Rafale combat jets from Dassault Aviation, bringing the deal into effect.
The French government values the purchase at €16 billion ($17.32 billion), with the aircraft costing €14 billion ($15.06 billion) and the weaponry costing €2 billion ($2.17 billion). Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027 and end in 2031.
Dassault Aviation says the deal is the result of more than 45 years of confidence between the UAE and Dassault, which began with the Mirage fighter jets, particularly the Mirage 2000-09, whose modernization began about five years ago.
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, said, “The Rafale shows, through its proven operational qualities and its export success, that it is today a real ‘game changer’ on the global geopolitical scene and an undisputed instrument for independence and sovereignty.”
The UAE’s Rafale purchase has set off a chain reaction in the Middle East, with countries making a beeline to acquire the fighter jet. The most significant of these is Saudi Arabia, which has reportedly been considering acquiring Rafale jets. French media claims the world’s second-largest oil producer is looking to buy 100 French-made aircraft.
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