Who Are NAFO And What Are They Trying To Accomplish?

Legend tells us that when times are dark, unexpected heroes can emerge. An adorable Shiba Inu may not seem like a fearsome warrior, but once a Cheems is decked out in full military regalia (tracksuit and gun, mostly) and joined by a seemingly endless column of fellow Doges, few things are more frightening.

But why is Twitter full of posts about Doge in military gear? And what is NAFO, the alliance which purports to hold them all together? Let's explain this whole "North Atlantic Fella Organization" thing.

Special delivery from the fellas.Kama_Kamilia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LivFaustDieJung?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">LivFaustDieJung mr_gh0stly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/iAmTheWarax?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">iAmTheWarax #WeAreNAFO #M777 #Ukraine #UkraineRussianWar pic.twitter.com/pXxt9FzzF8

— jebby (@jebbbby) June 10, 2022

What is NAFO?

NAFO stands for the North Atlantic Fella Organization, an alliance of meme posters styled after the real-life “NATO” (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) which mobilize memes to support Ukraine and fight Russia online.

Where did NAFO come from?

The first tweet referring to NAFO was posted on May 24th, 2022, leading us to the conclusion that the alliance was first ratified that spring. As the summer went on, NAFO posters congregated on Twitter to mobilize legions of Cheems to counter Russian information warfare on the platform.

What kinds of memes does NAFO post?

Most NAFO memes participate in the Dogelore canon, and feature both energetic video remixes paired with driving music as well as simple image macros.

The themes of NAFO posting are usually supportive of Ukraine and attacks on Russia. HIMARS (long-range rockets provided by the U.S. to Ukraine, which have proved quite effective on the battlefield) are featured a lot in NAFO memes, as are militaristic displays of Doges.

THE FELLAS WATCH "HIMARS – THE OPERA" pic.twitter.com/mfdepNMSBI

— jabuttee – luxurious memes and takes (@jabuttee) July 4, 2022

Perhaps part of the reason Cheems and Doge were chosen as symbols of NAFO is because of how cryptic they are. When Hannibal crossed the Alps with war elephants to attack the Romans, many of the legionnaires he fought had never seen an elephant before. It was this lack of comprehension and familiarity that, arguably, was scarier than the large size and sharp tusks of the war elephants. An armed Cheems, for a middle-aged or older Russian military person who does not look at memes, is perhaps deeply baffling and scary in the same way.

What has NAFO accomplished?

NAFO has raised over $50,000 for the Georgian Legion, a unit serving in Ukraine, through the St. Javelin charity. NAFO posters used their platform to sell merchandise and then donate the proceeds to Ukrainian units fighting on the field.

NAFO has also led efforts on Twitter to counter Russian government propaganda efforts, often through spamming Shiba Inu, mobilizing Dogelore to fight misinformation and trolling accounts that support the invasion of Ukraine.

How has Russia responded to NAFO?

NAFO has a combative relationship with the Russian government, particularly with Ambassador Mikhail Ulyanov, a diplomat posted to Vienna. Ulyanov has sparred with the group on Twitter, and one of his comebacks, “You pronounced this nonsense. Not me” has been appropriate by NAFO as an unofficial motto.

Is NAFO a CIA/FSB Operation?

Many online have accused NAFO of being planted by everyone from the American CIA to the Russian FSB. One of the most prominent NAFO accounts, @Kama_Kamilia, lists its location as Langley, Virginia (where the headquarters of the CIA is) and in their bio says "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help," a famous Ronald Reagan quip.

Of course, if an intelligence agency were running a covert online posting campaign, they would probably keep it pretty hush-hush. Or, maybe, since admitting to being CIA is the last thing you'd expect a CIA agent to do, the best way to maintain your cover would be to joke about posting from Langley.

Why do people join NAFO?

A lot of online people far from the front lines want to help Ukraine. Since modern warfare happens at least partially online, as countries seek to spin narratives and plant falsehoods to advance their goals, persevering posters really can make an impact.

New #NAFO Recruitment Video pic.twitter.com/UYwJWZ8jiz

— Just Steph 🚜🥄 (@juststephj) July 6, 2022

Public opinion in Western democracies, much of it shaped by social media, has proven crucial to the war effort. Outrage against Russia has helped pressure leaders to provide Ukraine with weapons and support. The posting of NAFO and other communities like the Ukrainian Memes Forces help to keep the war in peoples’ minds and limit the reach of pro-Russian memes and narratives.

For the full history of NAFO and even more memes, check out our entry on the alliance.