Madrid, Monday, 27 June 2022
Before this week's NATO conference in the Spanish capital, thousands of anti-NATO protesters marched through Madrid on Sunday.
Demonstrators demanded the closure of US military installations in Spain and the dissolution of the US-led NATO. They marched around the city with banners that read, "No to NATO, No to War, For Peace."
On Wednesday, the first day of the NATO summit, a second march was scheduled, but the Spanish government decided to prohibit it for security reasons.
Demonstrators sung, "Tanks yes, but of beer with tapas," claiming that NATO's need for higher defence spending in Europe posed a threat to world peace.
"This business of using weapons to kill people has gotten old to me. More weapons and wars are the suggested solution, and we always pay a price for it. Therefore, Concha Hoyos, a retired Madrid citizen, argued, "No NATO, no army bases, let the Americans go and leave us alone without wars and armaments."
Finland and Sweden's application to join NATO, which is being resisted by NATO member Turkey, is anticipated. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Nordic countries submitted an application.
(Report by: The Decision Maker – International Relations editors)