Version imprimableWe are living in a period in which the threat posed by imperialism to the peoples of the world and imperialist aggression in our region are intensifying. On 4 April, the anniversary of the founding of NATO – imperialism’s war organisation – representatives of left-wing, socialist and revolutionary organisations from different countries, as well as activists and intellectuals from social movements, met in an online meeting. The ongoing wars and NATO’s role within them were discussed, as well as the fields of struggle against these wars. Participants also discussed ways to organise opposition to the NATO Summit scheduled to take place in Ankara on 7-8 July 2026, and stressed the importance of international solidarity in this process. During this meeting, common views were expressed on the following elements.
The armed wing of imperialism
US imperialism and Israel are acting like outlaws, targeting the peoples of Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen and other countries. The United States, which supports the Israeli Zionist regime, supports the genocide in Palestine and bombs Iran in order to secure the interests of that regime. NATO, through its military and political role, is at the heart of these attacks. The European Union and its major imperialist powers are also complicit, supporting the US-Israeli aggression against the peoples of West Asia both politically and militarily. From NATO bases in the region – particularly those in Turkey – military intelligence and logistical support are being provided to the US and Israel. The US bases in Greece and the British bases in Cyprus also play a crucial role in maintaining this aggression. We all say no to NATO and US military bases in West Asia.
Since its inception, NATO has served as an instrument of destruction for the capitalist order, as many examples show. While promising “peace” within the framework of the overall stability of the capitalist system, NATO has supported counter-guerrilla structures in many countries and intervened in the internal affairs of many states, violently suppressing the struggles and mobilizations of the working class. Today, we are also seeing the destructive consequences of militarization and the formation of military blocs across NATO, especially on the Russia-Ukraine axis. [1]
Reactionary authoritarianism
With Trump’s return to power for a second term, this counterrevolutionary process has become even more evident. NATO is forcing all its member states to increase their military spending. The pressure to devote 5% of national budgets to military spending once again reveals the nature of NATO as an instrument of imperialist war. Allocating 5% of public budgets – resources created by workers – to militarization means taking these resources out of public goods and people’s social needs. While workers’ resources are diverted to the arms industry, militarist policies also create fertile ground for the rise of the far right. In much of the world, especially in Europe, far-right parties – which are advancing through policies against immigrants, against women and LGBTQI+ people – are pushing the masses not to fight against this system, but to find an oppressive place in it, thus strengthening the counterrevolutionary process.
Imperialist barbarism
War not only causes death and destruction, it also leads to mass migration. As a result of ongoing attacks and conflicts, people in the region are forced into large-scale displacement. In host countries, migrants tend to be low-cost labour for the capitalist system, while facing racism and systematic violations of their rights. Among them, women, children and LGBTQI+ people are the hardest hit by discrimination and poverty.
This barbarism on a global scale also confronts humanity with ecological destruction and catastrophes. The targeting of thermal power plants in the attacks on Iran and the threat of the use of nuclear weapons are putting not only the region, but the entire world, on the brink of a major ecological catastrophe.
Today, it is more important than ever to strengthen and broaden the fight against NATO. At a time when the regime of capital accumulation is entering a new aggressive phase and imperialist aggression is accelerating, the need to do is clear: NATO must be dissolved and all wars motivated by imperialist aggression must cease immediately. The necessary paths must be opened for this, and the anti-NATO struggles must be built in international solidarity.
In order to strengthen this struggle, the counter-summit planned in Ankara in July is an important moment. This summit – where the objective of increasing military spending to 5% of GDP will be discussed, where aggression in West Asia will be legitimised and where the opening of a new military base in Turkey could also be put on the agenda – must be met with a strong response.
Participants at the meeting on 4 April agreed on the following:
– A broad mobilization must be organized in opposition to the NATO summit scheduled for Ankara on 7 and 8 July.
– In order to make the voice of the people heard against this imperialist summit, an “International Anti-Imperialist Summit for Peace” is to be organized in Istanbul on 4 July.
– In the face of a summit where the leaders of NATO member states will meet to develop new plans of aggression, the voice of peace and international solidarity must be raised.
– To organize this International Anti-Imperialist Summit for Peace, all left, revolutionary, socialist and anti-militarist organizations, movements and individuals must support and expand this call in a spirit of solidarity.
– The International Anti-Imperialist Summit for Peace must create a space for the peoples of different countries and their representatives to make their voices heard and discuss ways to fight imperialism.
4 April 2026
