Protest Erupt in The Hague Against NATO, Protesters Sue For Peace

Hundreds of people gathered in The Hague, Netherlands, to protest against the upcoming NATO summit and increased military spending, amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The demonstration, held on Sunday, also condemned Israel’s war in Gaza and the Israel-Iran conflict, hours after the US targeted three nuclear sites in Iran in a sudden escalatory move in support of its ally.

Protester Hossein Hamadani, a 74-year-old Iranian living in the Netherlands, expressed his opposition to war, saying, “People want to live a peaceful life… Things are not good. So why do we spend money on war?” The NATO summit, set to kick off on Tuesday, will discuss increased defence spending, a demand repeatedly made by US President Donald Trump.

A NATO official stated that the alliance is watching the situation “closely” following the US attack on Iran. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has spoken out against the agreement to increase defence spending to 5 percent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), calling it “unreasonable but also counterproductive”. In a letter to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Sanchez requested a “more flexible formula” that either makes the spending target optional or excludes Spain from its application.

However, Trump responded by saying that Madrid was “notorious” for underspending on defence and needed to pay what other NATO members were paying. The allied countries have increased defence spending since Russia invaded Ukraine over three years ago, but almost a third of the members still do not meet the bloc’s current target of at least 2 percent defence spending.

The protest in The Hague reflects growing concerns about the impact of military spending on global stability and the need for diplomatic solutions to conflicts. As the situation between Iran and Israel continues to escalate, the international community is watching closely for any developments that could further destabilize the region.