NATO Counter Summit in The Hague

As NATO convenes its latest War Summit, rallying around increased military spending and Cold War posturing, an alternative movement has risen to offer a different vision.

The vision rooted in diplomacy, justice, and global solidarity. In June 2025, the Hague became the epicenter of this vision, hosting powerful events that challenged the logic of war and militarization.

The Counter-Summit for Peace and Justice – June 21, The Hague

Organized by grassroots activists and peace movements, the Counter-Summit served as a vibrant space for international dialogue and solidarity. Activists, thinkers, and campaigners came together to share strategies, build alliances, and envision a Europe beyond war and imperialism.

What it offered:

  • A gathering of cross-border solidarity, critical reflection, and shared alternatives to militarization
  • Engagement from voices across the European left, including Walter Baier, President of the European Left, and Peter Mertens, General Secretary of PVDA-PTB
  • Messages centered on disarmament, diplomacy, and the rejection of military escalation

International Conference for Peace – June 21, The Hague

Held the day after the Counter-Summit, the International Conference for Peace was a more formal platform focused on shaping the narrative for sustainable peace and international cooperation. Organized by SP (Socialist Party, Netherlands), this event offered powerful critiques of NATO’s direction—and passionate appeals for peace. Keynote address by Walter Baier, who declared: “The world’s most powerful governments are gambling. They are playing with our lives—with the future of our planet. No nuclear weapons in Europe. Not now. Not ever.”

Protest in the Streets – June 22, The Hague

While global leaders prepared for closed-door NATO meetings on June 24–25, thousands mobilized in The Hague to send a strong message of resistance. Protesters rejected war, militarization, and imperialism—raising banners for peace, not profit.

Their demands were clear:

Invest in diplomacy—not destruction

Cut military spending

End endless wars

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