The Kremlin's greatest ally? Western politicians fighting each other over the Russian threat

The “Russian threat” has become a weapon in domestic political battles across the West. As intelligence agencies increasingly appear to serve the agendas of one political camp or another, Russia stands to benefit from the divisions this creates. The Russian threat becomes a political weapon in the struggle for power Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned of a growing threat from Russian hybrid operations, citing information from US intelligence agencies and urging the public to prepare for the worst-case scenarios. President Karol Nawrocki, however, has accused the prime minister of lying, describing his warnings as “socially irresponsible” fearmongering designed to rally the population around the flag and boost his own political standing. The two politicians represent opposing political camps. Tusk leads the liberal-centrist Civic Platform and the broader Civic Coalition, which came to power in late 2023. Nawrocki is formally independent, but ran with the backing of the main right-wing conservative opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS).