On Sunday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in The Hague, Netherlands, to protest against NATO, increased military spending, and the potential for conflict with Iran. This protest took place just two days before a significant NATO summit aimed at discussing defense budget increases among its member nations.
Jos d’Haese, a Belgian politician, addressed the crowd near the summit venue, advocating for investment in peace and sustainable energy instead of military expenditures. “Let’s invest in peace and sustainable energy,” he said, highlighting the collective desire for a peaceful future.
The demonstration not only highlighted opposition to NATO and the ongoing conflict in Gaza but also saw participation from Iranians who expressed their opposition to potential military actions against Iran. Many held banners stating “No Iran War,” in response to recent U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear sites the previous day. Hossein Hamadani, a 74-year-old Iranian residing in the Netherlands, articulated the protesters' sentiments: “We are opposed to war. People want to live a peaceful life. Look at the environment. Things are not good. So why do we spend money on war?”
The NATO summit in The Hague is the annual meeting of the 32-nation alliance, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, with leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump expected to discuss a push for increased defense spending. The agreement appeared to be nearing completion last week, but recently, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed concerns in a letter to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He warned that committing Spain to spend 5% of its gross domestic product on defense would be not only “unreasonable” but also “counterproductive."
In the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago, NATO allies have notably increased their defense budgets. However, it is reported that nearly one-third of NATO members still do not meet the alliance’s current guideline of allocating at least 2% of their GDP to defense.
The summit is being secured by the largest-ever Dutch security operation, named “Orange Shield.” This extensive security measure includes thousands of police and military personnel, the deployment of drones, the establishment of no-fly zones, and the involvement of cybersecurity experts to safeguard the proceedings.
As this large-scale protest unfolded, it marked a significant moment of civil dissent in the context of international military policy, reflecting widespread public sentiment on the necessity of prioritizing peace and diplomatic solutions over militarization and conflict.
