CLAIM: Carlson: “Ukraine resells half of the American weapons to Mexican cartels operating at the U.S. border.”
CONCLUSION: Tucker Carlson admits he has no evidence for his claims. The allegation that the Ukrainian military is selling American weapon systems on the black market, including to drug cartels, is false. There is no evidence that Ukraine is involved in such activities. This narrative is based on misleading news reports, mistranslations, and out-of-context videos that have been debunked by fact-checking organizations. The claim that Ukraine is selling Western weapons to criminals aligns with Russian disinformation tactics.
The discussion takes place between journalist Tucker Carlson and retired Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L. Davis.
Tucker Carlson, a former Fox News host, has been criticized for promoting pro-Russian narratives, especially following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A notable example was his interview with Vladimir Putin in February 2024. His views often reflect Kremlin rhetoric, leading to clips from his broadcasts being featured on Russian state television as supposed evidence of Western commentators supporting Russia’s stance.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Daniel L. Davis, a former U.S. Army officer and military analyst, has expressed critical views on U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict. Some observers have described his opinions as aligned with pro-Russian narratives. For instance, Media Matters for America reported that Davis appeared on various platforms downplaying Russian aggression against Ukraine and blaming NATO and Ukraine for the conflict. He has also argued that Ukraine should consider making concessions to Russia to end the war.
As for the “evidence” supporting the claim, none is provided. Carlson stated, “Our intelligence services know this well. Are you telling me they are not profiting from it? The CIA is profiting from this. I can’t prove it, but I believe it.” Davis then added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy knows about this but publicly denies it.
The Narrative of Ukraine Selling Western Weapons to Criminal Cartels
One of the main factors behind this false claim was a mistranslated Mexican news report from June 2023, which allegedly stated that weapons from Ukraine had been found in the hands of drug cartels. A Mexican news outlet initially reported on cartel weapons but did not mention Ukraine. However, a mistranslation of the article spread online, leading to baseless claims that weapons sent to Ukraine had ended up with Mexican criminals. This mistranslation was widely circulated by social media accounts known for spreading pro-Russian narratives, further amplifying disinformation. Despite fact-checkers debunking this claim, it continued to circulate online.
Another false claim that surfaced in June 2023 alleged that a Mexican drug cartel had acquired a U.S.-made Javelin anti-tank missile that had been sent to Ukraine. However, this claim was entirely false and based on a misidentification of the weapon. Politifact revealed that the weapon shown in the video was not a Javelin but an AT4, a lightweight, single-use anti-tank launcher. Unlike Javelins, AT4s are not guided missiles and are present in many countries, including Latin America. There was no evidence linking this specific AT4 to Ukraine, let alone suggesting it was illegally sold by the Ukrainian military. The video was taken out of context to support the false claim that Western weapons were being funneled to drug cartels.
Ukraine has received billions of dollars in military aid from the United States and other countries, but there is no documented case of these weapons being systematically trafficked on the black market. While isolated cases of arms mismanagement are always possible in war zones, the claim that the Ukrainian government or military is systematically selling weapons to criminal groups is not supported by evidence. According to a report by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, there is no proof of large-scale trafficking of Western weapons from Ukraine. The report states that while the risk of illegal arms circulation exists in any war zone, Ukraine has implemented strict monitoring mechanisms to prevent such incidents.
The claim that Ukraine sells Western weapons to criminals aligns with Russian disinformation tactics, which aim to reduce Western support for Ukraine. Russian state media and Kremlin-linked figures have repeatedly promoted such allegations without credible sources or evidence.
Conclusion
Tucker Carlson admits he has no evidence for his claims. The allegation that the Ukrainian military is selling American weapon systems on the black market, including to drug cartels, is false. There is no evidence that Ukraine is involved in such activities. This narrative is based on misleading news reports, mistranslations, and out-of-context videos that have been debunked by fact-checking organizations. The claim that Ukraine is selling Western weapons to criminals aligns with Russian disinformation tactics.
Sources
- https://www.mediamatters.org/russias-invasion-ukraine/afghanistan-whistleblower-turned-putin-apologist-mainstreams-russian
- https://x.com/TuckerCarlson/status/1889011796796645488?t=1876
- https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-mexico-cartel-weapons-ukraine-us-668968778777
- https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/jun/15/tiktok-posts/claim-that-a-mexican-cartel-has-weapons-sent-to-uk/
- https://www.army-technology.com/projects/saabat4/
- https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/20/politics/pentagon-watchdog-report-ukraine-weaponry/index.html?ref=hir.harvard.edu
- https://www.politico.eu/article/no-evidence-russian-claim-that-ukrainian-western-guns-are-flooding-europe-says-report/
- https://globalinitiative.net/analysis/trends-arms-trafficking-conflict-ukraine-russia-monitor/
- https://cpd.gov.ua/reports/analitychnyj-zvit-na-temu-chornyj-rynok-zbroyi/