Tucker Carlson Repeats Kremlin Lie About Ukrainian Weapons in Mexican Cartels

American journalist Tucker Carlson has once again repeated a false narrative that has already been refuted, claiming that Ukrainian weapons have been sold to Mexican cartels. This claim, initially spread by Russian propaganda, has been thoroughly debunked, yet Carlson continues to promote it despite a complete lack of evidence.

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, reported on this latest instance of misinformation. Carlson’s statement aligns with the same narrative that Russian propaganda pushed as early as 2022. At that time, Russian state-controlled media and affiliated Telegram channels widely shared a report from the Mexican television network Milenio Televisión, which falsely alleged that Ukrainian weapons were being supplied to the Golfo cartel. The report displayed images of American M136 grenade launchers, AK-47 rifles, and Javelin anti-tank missiles. However, the presenter mistakenly identified the M136 grenade launcher as a Javelin, leading to misleading conclusions.

The reality is that M136 grenade launchers, also known as AT4s, have been in production since the 1980s, with over 600,000 units manufactured worldwide. These weapons are widely available and, in the instance covered by the Mexican report, were actually obtained from the North American black market rather than from Ukraine. Despite these facts, Russian propagandists manipulated the report, disseminating it in multiple languages to damage Ukraine’s international reputation and undermine Western military support.

Now, Carlson has revived this discredited claim, amplifying falsehoods that serve the interests of the Kremlin. His statements contradict verified facts, as Western partners exercise stringent oversight of the military aid provided to Ukraine. The notion that advanced weaponry such as HIMARS missile systems or Javelin anti-tank missiles could find their way into the hands of Mexican criminal organisations is absurd. Yet, those determined to undermine Ukraine’s efforts against Russian aggression continue to propagate these baseless accusations.

Carlson’s remarks come at a time when Russian disinformation campaigns are intensifying their efforts to weaken support for Ukraine’s defensive struggle. Such narratives seek to sow doubt among Western allies and question the legitimacy of military aid to Ukraine.