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The Star
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Interview: NATO is global driver of conflicts, U.S. activist says at pre-summit protest
THE HAGUE, June 22 (Xinhua) -- NATO has become a driver of global conflict rather than a force for peace, prioritizing military expansion at the expense of public welfare, a U.S. anti-war activist said here on Sunday during a protest ahead of the alliance's annual summit. "The wars are multiplying, the military spending is escalating, and NATO is instructing nation after nation to take money out of education, retirement, health care, and green energy, and put it into weapons and wars," said David Swanson, executive director of the non-profit group World Beyond War, in an interview with Xinhua. Swanson, who traveled from the United States to join the protest near the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, said NATO's presence in the city was "ironic," given what he described as the alliance's role in fueling conflicts around the globe. "NATO should have come to The Hague because the International Criminal Court is here, and its leaders should present themselves for prosecution. But it should not be here to organize the world for more wars and more military spending," he said. "NATO can be abolished and the world (would) be safer without it." The protest, attended by hundreds, took place two days before the NATO summit, where member states are expected to push for increased defense spending. While the demonstration was billed as opposing NATO and the war in Gaza, it also drew participants holding banners reading "No Iran War," following U.S. airstrikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities a day earlier. Swanson said NATO's expansion since the Cold War, with 32 members currently, has only worsened global insecurity. "NATO is expanding globally and adding partners around the world, and has become the single biggest distributor of weapons, promoter of wars, and creator of military bases around the world," he said, adding that it certainly should have disbanded when the Cold War ended. He also criticized NATO member countries for following U.S. directives without regard for domestic public opinion or international law. "NATO countries are servants of the U.S. government, colonies of the U.S. government, and obedient to the U.S. government," Swanson said. "They need to start listening to the people of their countries, to international law, and to the United Nations."
Euronews
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Hundreds take to the street in the Hague to demonstrate against NATO
Hundreds of people gathered on Sunday to protest against NATO, rising military spending, and the risk of war with Iran. The protest comes two days before a summit of the alliance in The Hague, where leaders are expected to discuss increasing defence budgets. 'Let's invest in peace and sustainable energy,' Belgian politician Joe d'Haese said addressing a crowd in a park near the summit location. Although the protest focused on NATO and the war in Gaza, many Iranians joined in response to Sunday's attacks carried out by the United States on three key Iranian nuclear sites. Demonstrators were seen holding signs reading 'No Iran War,' and "Hands off Iran." 'We are opposed to war. People want to live a peaceful life,' said 74-year-old Hossein Hamadani, an Iranian living in the Netherlands. "Things are not good. So why do we spend money on war?' he added. Arno van der Veen, spokesperson for the Counter Summit Coalition for Peace and Justice, which organised the protest, said the role of NATO has become problematic now that the US decided to join Israel in the war in Iran. "If there is a retaliation from Iran now, which would be just and legitimate under international law, then we, as the Netherlands, would also be at war with Iran," he told Euronews. "The next step is a nuclear war. And that is what we are incredibly worried about, and why we can see that the moment you buy more weapons, the chances increase that you will also use them. And that is life-threatening," he warned. Anti-NATO activists are often criticised for having a supposedly pro-Russian stance. Van der Veen emphasised, however, that his organisation stands against Russian imperialism, while also opposing US imperialism. "They are both now trying to divide the natural resources in the ground in Ukraine," he said. "The population of Ukraine is the victim of this war, and also the population of Russia, because they are all sent into the army." The Netherlands is hosting the annual NATO summit, starting Tuesday, with world leaders meeting on Wednesday. Leaders plan to agree on higher defence spending, as pushed by US President Donald Trump. Talks were nearly complete last week, until Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that asking Spain to spend 5% of its GDP on defence was 'unreasonable and counterproductive.' Since Russia invaded Ukraine over three years ago, NATO countries have increased defence spending. But nearly a third still do not meet the current 2% target. The summit is under tight security, with the largest safety operation ever in the Netherlands, called 'Orange Shield.' It involves thousands of police and military officers, drones, no-fly zones, and cybersecurity teams.
6 hours ago
- Politics
Hundreds protest in The Hague against NATO, days before the Dutch city hosts alliance summit
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Hundreds of people protested Sunday against NATO and military spending and against a possible conflict with Iran, two days before a summit of the alliance in The Hague that is seeking to increase allies' defense budgets. 'Let's invest in peace and sustainable energy,' Belgian politician Jos d'Haese told the crowd at a park not far from the summit venue. Although billed as a demonstration against NATO and the war in Gaza, protesters were joined by Iranians who held up banners saying 'No Iran War,' the day after the United States launched attacks against three of Iran's nuclear sites. 'We are opposed to war. People want to live a peaceful life,' said 74-year-old Hossein Hamadani, an Iranian who lives in the Netherlands. Look at the environment. 'Things are not good. So why do we spend money on war?' he added. The Netherlands is hosting the annual meeting of the 32-nation alliance starting Tuesday, with leaders scheduled to meet Wednesday. The heads of government want to hammer out an agreement on a hike in defense spending demanded by U.S. President Donald Trump. The deal appeared largely done last week, until Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that committing Madrid to spending 5% of its gross domestic product on defense "would not only be unreasonable, but also counterproductive.' U.S. allies have ramped up defense spending since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, but almost a third of them still don't meet NATO's current target of at least 2% of their gross domestic product. The summit is being protected by the biggest ever Dutch security operation, code named 'Orange Shield," involving thousands of police and military personnel, drones, no-fly zones and cybersecurity experts.
Straits Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Hague NATO summit protest shifts focus to Iran
Demonstrators hold signs against a war in Iran, during a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, at The Hague, Netherlands, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw A demonstrator reacts, during a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, at The Hague, Netherlands June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw Demonstrator take part in a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, near the Peace Palace, in The Hague, Netherlands June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw People take part in a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, at The Hague, Netherlands, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw Demonstrators hold 'ROOD Socialistische Jongeren' (RED socialist youth) flags during a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, at The Hague, Netherlands, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw THE HAGUE - An anti-NATO protest in The Hague on Sunday shifted its focus to Iran after overnight U.S. strikes hit key nuclear sites there. The peaceful demonstration took place days before The Hague hosts a NATO summit. The planned protest against NATO's military policies pivoted to condemnation of the U.S. attacks on Iran, with participants voicing concern about rising tensions in the Middle East. Thousands marched toward the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice, a Reuters witness said. Organizers estimated the crowd at 5,000, while police said they do not track attendance numbers. Protesters carried banners calling for de-escalation, diplomacy, and for NATO to be disbanded, with some saying "No Iran War" and "Hands off Iran". Iranian protester Nikita Shahbazi told Reuters it was "heartbreaking" to see what is going on in her home country. "I feel devastated. (The U.S. attacks) can trigger a wider war. It has opened the paths for illegal attacks on nuclear installations everywhere in the world." Protesters also opposed a proposed 5% defence spending target pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and backed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who hopes to secure consensus at the summit, beginning on Wednesday. "There's no need for this provocation, this 5% of GDP spending on weapons, that will benefit the military-industrial complex. This has nothing to do with the needs of people," said British protester Pippa Bartolotti. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Hague NATO summit protest shifts focus to Iran
Demonstrators hold 'ROOD Socialistische Jongeren' (RED socialist youth) flags during a march against the upcoming NATO leaders' summit, at The Hague, Netherlands, June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw THE HAGUE (Reuters) -An anti-NATO protest in The Hague on Sunday shifted its focus to Iran after overnight U.S. strikes hit key nuclear sites there. The peaceful demonstration took place days before The Hague hosts a NATO summit. The planned protest against NATO's military policies pivoted to condemnation of the U.S. attacks on Iran, with participants voicing concern about rising tensions in the Middle East. Thousands marched toward the Peace Palace, home to the International Court of Justice, a Reuters witness said. Organizers estimated the crowd at 5,000, while police said they do not track attendance numbers. Protesters carried banners calling for de-escalation, diplomacy, and for NATO to be disbanded, with some saying "No Iran War" and "Hands off Iran". Iranian protester Nikita Shahbazi told Reuters it was "heartbreaking" to see what is going on in her home country. "I feel devastated. (The U.S. attacks) can trigger a wider war. It has opened the paths for illegal attacks on nuclear installations everywhere in the world." Protesters also opposed a proposed 5% defence spending target pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and backed by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who hopes to secure consensus at the summit, beginning on Wednesday. "There's no need for this provocation, this 5% of GDP spending on weapons, that will benefit the military-industrial complex. This has nothing to do with the needs of people," said British protester Pippa Bartolotti. (Reporting by Yiming Woo, Writing by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Editing by Giles Elgood)
