On 24 and 25 June, a NATO summit will take place at the World Forum in The Hague. Government leaders and ministers from 45 countries are expected, as well as thousands of other delegation members and journalists. Government leaders will meet to discuss the future of this military alliance. But NATO is in crisis, with major disagreements between the US and European member states.

The context is determined by the war in Ukraine and other conflicts, tensions between the major powers (US, China, Russia), a wave of militarization and armament and increasing support for the arms industry. Diplomacy and dialogue have been pushed aside. The climate crisis threatens the world.

A counter summit peace coalition was formed. It organized a one-day program of peace and justice, on disarmament against militarisation of societies in the NATO countries. (Program in Dutch and English): https://nieuwevredesbeweging.nl/project/navo-tegentop/#programma and a Demonstration on June 22nd. 

NMVP, our Dutch affiliate, organized a plenary session on nuclear arms in Europe. Participants will be Tom Sauer, university of Antwerp, Belgium, Dirk Hoogenkamp, NMVP and Sophie Bolt, CND UK. 

Tensions in the transatlantic world are making plans for a European nuclear bomb more attractive in certain circles. Britain is also now placing tactical nuclear weapons at the U.S. Lakenheath base. This gives GB, like the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Turkey, a position sharing U.S. nuclear weapons. Germany will have a trio of new US medium-range missiles installed in 2026. Of these, one hypersonic and one cruise missile with the capacity of a nuclear warhead payload. Even though nuclear arms control and nuclear disarmament seem to have gone out of fashion among politicians and militaries they will explain which pathways and which goals can lead to nuclear disarmament and a future stable security structure in Europe. One demand seems clear: The governments of the US and of Russia together must extend the New Start Treaty. 80 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki the world leaders must prevent any use of nuclear weapons. 

You are all invited to The Hague: Please register here for people outside the Netherlands.
Marianne Begemann and Angelika Claussen

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