Protesters Take to The Hague Streets
Thousands of people filled the streets of The Hague on Sunday, rallying against the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and rising military budgets. With the summit just two days away, voices from across Europe and beyond converged on the Dutch city to demand a rethinking of defence priorities.
Defence Spending Debate Heats Up
From June 24 to 25, NATO leaders will meet under tight security to consider a proposal for member states to spend 5 percent of their GDP on defence. Protesters argue that pouring public funds into military hardware comes at the expense of social programmes, climate action and public health.
Voices from the Crowd
Marie, a climate activist from Berlin, held a sign reading 'Invest in our Future, Not Armaments.' Others highlighted global crises such as hunger and inequality, calling on policymakers to prioritise human security over military might.
A Turning Point for NATO?
As the summit approaches, the scale of Sunday’s demonstration sends a clear message: young global citizens want budgets that reflect changing security needs—from pandemics to cyber threats and climate disasters. Whether NATO leaders will heed these calls remains to be seen.
For now, The Hague stands as a vivid backdrop for a larger conversation on how nations define and defend their security in a complex world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
