Thousands demonstrate in Madrid ahead of NATO summit

Banners with the phrases ‘No to NATO, No to Warfare, For Peace’ have been held as 1000's of individuals marched by way of the Spanish metropolis.

Demonstrators towards the US-led army alliance march on Sunday earlier than a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain [Nacho Doce/Reuters]

Hundreds of anti-NATO demonstrators rallied in Madrid on Sunday earlier than a summit of the Western army alliance within the Spanish capital this week.

Demonstrators referred to as for US-led NATO to be dissolved and for army bases maintained by america in Spain to be closed. Banners with the phrases “No to NATO, No to Warfare, For Peace” have been held as they marched by way of town.

The Spanish authorities banned one other rally deliberate for Wednesday, the primary day of the NATO summit, on safety grounds.

“Tanks sure, however of beer with tapas,” sang demonstrators, who claimed a rise in defence spending in Europe urged by NATO was a risk to peace.

“I'm fed up [with] this enterprise of arms and killing individuals. The answer they suggest is extra arms and wars and we at all times pay for it. So no NATO, no [army] bases, let the People go and depart us alone with out wars and weapons,” stated Concha Hoyos, a retired Madrid resident.

Organisers claimed 5,000 individuals joined the march, however authorities in Madrid put the quantity at 2,200.

A digital fortress

NATO is anticipated to contemplate the bid, opposed by alliance member Turkey, for Finland and Sweden to hitch. The Nordic nations utilized within the wake of the Russian assault on Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who calls the struggle a particular army operation, says it partially responds to the accession to NATO of different nations close to post-Soviet Russia’s borders because the Nineties.

Madrid is ready to be become a digital fortress throughout the two-day summit. Greater than 10,000 police and different safety forces will present safety to the representatives of some 40 nations attending. An inside ministry spokesman stated so far no particular risk has been recognized.

The summit is being held within the shadow of the struggle in Ukraine and is anticipated to take selections on strengthening NATO’s army and deterrence capacities.