A Pan-Canadian Counter-Summit on NATO, June 14
Speakers including academics, youth leaders, communist organizers and leaders of women’s groups met online while local actions ensued over the weekend before and on the day of the NATO summit.
One of the keynote speakers, Margaret Villamizar, pointed to NATO General Secretary Jens Stoltenberg stated purpose of this NATO summit:
“enhancing NATO’s role in preserving the rules-based international order, which he said is challenged by authoritarian regimes, like Russia and China. He said this requires strengthening existing partnerships and building new ones, including in the Asia-Pacific, Africa, and Latin America — in other words extending NATO’s reach to regions far beyond the north Atlantic to China’s own neighbourhood…”. (“China as a Threat and the Fraud of NATO’s Values,” TML Monthly Supplement posted June 14, 2021, on www.cpcml.ca)
She also cited Stoltenberg’s argument characterizing China as a predator state “seeking to control critical infrastructure in NATO countries and around the world” and raised alarm bells about its interest “some of the most important technologies, including parts of artificial intelligence and autonomous systems” the extent of China’s defense budget, naval expansion and military capabilities. (“Ongoing Threat to World Peace by a Cold War Relic”, ibid.) He insists that member countries must share the burden of defense against such threats.
Another Canadian Counter Summit speaker, Nick Lin, underscored the US-led alliance’s framework about defense against China and Russia. “At a time when the U.S. claims that China and Russia pose a threat to global stability, NATO is using these countries as the pretext to demand increased war funding from member governments.” (ibid.) Furthermore, said Lin, NATO is seeking more control over its member states by “insinuating itself into the political and social affairs of member countries and the direction of their economies” and assuming an air of benevolence. (ibid.) Margaret Villamizar examined the language of NATO’s propaganda, city keywords that signify a false voice of peace: ” safeguarding the freedom, common heritage and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law….to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area.” (ibid.)
Both speakers called for Canada to withdraw from NATO and for NATO to be dismantled. They supported actions and discussions opposing NATO and analyzing NATO and US strategy, pushing the need for broad based unity in action against NATO and US aggression.
JUST PEAce COMMITTEE 