The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has reiterated its opposition to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), as it is announced that Newport in Wales will host the military alliance’s 2014 summit. This is the first time that Britain will host NATO leaders since the end of the cold war in 1990. Since then, thousands have died in NATO’s wars in Afghanistan and Libya as the alliance ruthlessly pursues global military influence and aggressive military expansionism.
CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson commented.
“CND does not believe that Newport, or anywhere else in the UK, should host a NATO summit. Rather, we believe that Britain should withdraw from NATO and all foreign military bases on British soil should be closed. We will be highlighting the summit to show the public’s opposition to an alliance which encourages a more militarised and confrontational international system. Its global expansionism increases international tension and jeopardises disarmament initiatives.
“NATO’s war in Afghanistan continues, with the alliance now stating that its drones will maintain operations in the country even after the supposed pull-out date of 2014. It is also developing a new missile defence system, which will be an obstacle to improving relations with Russia and a set-back to nuclear disarmament initiatives.”
NATO also has a nuclear first strike policy with a massive nuclear arsenal at its disposal, including the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system.
“Hundreds of US nukes are kept at bases across Europe under cover of NATO – in violation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. There is strong opposition – not least from governments in ‘host’ countries – to the presence of these weapons of mass destruction,” continued Kate Hudson. “Public and parliamentary opposition to attacking Syria, and the positive disarmament outcomes that have ensued, show that diplomacy and dialogue must be the wave of the future, not militarism and war.”
CND will be working with the Stop the War Coalition and the international No to NATO network to highlight opposition to NATO and war.