Europeans protest Donald Trump’s NATO visit on streets of Brussels
European activists protested against Donald Trump’s upcoming appearance at NATO, marching through
Belgium’s capital on Saturday to plead for less military spending and
more public money for schools and clean energy.
The
“Trump Not Welcome” march and a companion concert came as European and
North American leaders prepare for an annual summit at NATO’s Brussels
headquarters.
Trump accuses NATO allies of not doing enough to defend themselves and is demanding that they increase their military budgets.
The
protest organisers oppose more military spending, and attracted a high-
spirited, diverse crowd of thousands that wended through central
Brussels while demonstrating on behalf of multiple causes during the
peaceful march.
“NATO Game Over” read one banner; others read “Pro-America, Anti-Trump.”
Some protesters waved rainbow banners and Palestinian and Cuban flags.
Others campaigned for keeping immigrant families together or stopping austerity plans that hurt the poor; for the closure of coal and nuclear plants; or for an end to racism and sexism.
The
US president is heading for Europe as his protectionist trade policies
and withdrawal from the Paris climate accord have angered some of the
leaders he will see at the NATO summit on Wednesday and Thursday.
Members of the western military alliance have agreed on a goal of each country devoting 2 per cent of GDP to defence within a decade.
Trump accuses NATO allies of not doing enough to defend themselves and is demanding that they increase their military budgets.
Some protesters waved rainbow banners and Palestinian and Cuban flags.
Others campaigned for keeping immigrant families together or stopping austerity plans that hurt the poor; for the closure of coal and nuclear plants; or for an end to racism and sexism.
Members of the western military alliance have agreed on a goal of each country devoting 2 per cent of GDP to defence within a decade.
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