Protests against the NATO summit in The Hague, organized by the World Anti-Imperialist Platform, continued throughout the afternoon on June 24.
The demonstration began with the slogan “Disband NATO!” chanted by members of the People’s Democracy Party.
In the first speech, a party member stated, “From the Korean Peninsula to Kosovo, from Afghanistan to Libya, and now from Ukraine to the Pacific, NATO has left behind only ruins, ashes, and mass graves,” adding, “At the NATO summit held in Washington, the imperialists officially declared the ‘Pacificization’ of NATO. What does that mean? It means they are trying to drag Asian countries like Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Australia into imperialist wars. It is a war plan to turn East Asia into a new frontline.”
The speaker continued, “The war in Ukraine is not a tragic misunderstanding. It is the result of decades of NATO expansion, broken promises, military encirclement, and strategic provocations. This war is not something Russia wanted — it continues because NATO needs war in order to exist. War is NATO’s lifeline.” She added, “Tactical nuclear weapons are deployed in Germany, Italy, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Any war today carries the risk of total destruction for all humanity. This is not defense. This is madness. The real threat to world peace is NATO.”
Another party member declared, “We are not silent bystanders. We are determined fighters in a war of liberation. We fight not with guns and bombs, but with truth, unity, and the collective power of the people! Today, we shout it clearly: NATO is not a defensive alliance. NATO is the armed wing of imperialism, and the command center of World War 3. NATO must be disbanded.”
“Throughout 2024, NATO conducted large-scale military exercises in the Pacific region—RIMPAC, Pitch Black, Pacific Skies, and Pacific Dragon. These are not defensive drills. These are rehearsals for war.” “We refuse to be cannon fodder for NATO’s ambitions. We reject the sacrifice of our future for the sake of imperialist expansion. We will not be silent. We will not remain silent when our government funds mass killings abroad while enforcing austerity and poverty at home.”
Later that day, the “DISBAND NATO” rally, organized by the World Anti-Imperialist Platform, was held once again.
The Workers’ Party of Ireland stated, “NATO serves to divide and enforce global influence among the core capitalist powers. NATO imperialism is the enemy. We must fight against it with every means at our disposal. We must do everything we can to stop the wars caused by imperialism. And we stand together—because the victims of imperialist war are always the workers.”
Aleksandar Đenić, Executive Secretary of the New Communist Party of Yugoslavia, declared, “It is crucial to build the strongest possible international solidarity in the anti-NATO and anti-imperialist struggle. Solidarity with the peoples of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua is also essential. We must unite under the banner of anti-imperialism with all those who oppose NATO—Ukrainians, Palestinians, Iranians, Yemenis, and people across the world.” “NATO has occupied our country and manipulated its political process. Divide and conquer—they want to control every process within our nation. NATO must be overthrown. Long live the anti-NATO struggle! Long live the anti-imperialist struggle!”
The Antifascist Former Resistance Fighters Netherlands stated, “At this very moment, our country is hosting an imperialist war summit. And our country sits at the very heart of the imperialist structure. But at the same time, our country also has a history — past and present — of anti-imperialist mass struggle. Right here, where we now stand, over 150,000 people gathered to protest the genocide in Gaza that our government supports.”
They continued, “Not all Palestinian organizations share our views on national liberation or popular development. But what matters is this: all of them are fighting against the imperialist system that today blocks the progress of history. Just as feudal systems once suppressed historical progress, today it is imperialism that holds back the course of history. We are fighting the same enemy, the same system, the same oppression.”
They concluded by chanting, “Long live international solidarity!”
The struggle will continue on the 25th.
