Foreign ministers from all 32 NATO member countries are expected to attend the meeting in Helsingborg, according to multiple reports. The first day, May 21, will be an informal meeting hosted by Sweden, with a ministerial dinner at Sofiero Castle, major media reported. The second day, May 22, will be a formal meeting led by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, according to the same sources.
Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said the meeting is an important part of preparations for the NATO summit in Ankara in July, and topics expected to be discussed include follow-up on the new defense spending commitment decided at the Hague summit and continued support for Ukraine. NATO allies agreed on a new defense spending target of 5% of GDP by 2035, according to multiple reports. Stenergard also stated that Sweden's hosting demonstrates its ambition as an active and constructive NATO ally.
We live in a time marked by war, where resistance to war is portrayed as undemocratic. Everything has happened very quickly since we joined NATO.
The choice of Helsingborg is strategic due to its proximity to the Öresund strait and Russian military resources in Kaliningrad, major media reported. Sweden has contributed troops to NATO's enhanced forward presence in Latvia and has shown its commitment by contributing military capabilities on short notice, according to multiple reports. Stenergard expressed hope that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend, according to a wire report.
The US has criticized NATO allies for not helping in the war against Iran and is reconsidering its relationship with NATO, major media reported. A protest demonstration against the NATO meeting is planned for May 16 in Helsingborg, organized by the network Stoppa Nato (Stop NATO), according to multiple reports. The network includes 15 organizations and aims to gather different groups across generations, according to Proletären, Johanna Söderman Wigh described.
There was a certain upswing around the Iraq war, but the broad peace movement has unfortunately not managed to mobilize the younger generations.
The protest will feature music by reggae artist General Knas (Ivan Olausson Klatil), according to Proletären, Pia Jacobsen described. The organizers expect at least a few thousand participants and do not foresee any risk of violence or disturbances, according to multiple reports. The network's platform includes the slogans 'Stop NATO, we refuse your militarization', 'Welfare not weapons', and 'NATO out of Sweden, Sweden out of NATO', according to multiple reports.
According to Proletären, Johanna Söderman Wigh described the importance of showing that the NATO opposition lives. According to Proletären, Pia Jacobsen described the meeting as a given opportunity to gather the NATO opposition. The exact dates of the meeting are unclear; Proletären suggests the meeting is in mid-May, while other sources specify May 21-22.
It is a given opportunity to gather the NATO opposition. The world's eyes are on Helsingborg.
It is not yet known whether US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend, and the number of protesters expected remains uncertain.
Yes, it is important to show that the NATO opposition lives. Such a meeting should not go unnoticed.
Our goal is to gather different organizations and movements across generations, with parties, youth associations, peace organizations and also the climate movement.
General Knas will play at the gathering! As for speakers, we are not quite ready yet.
No, given how calm it was around the Eurovision demonstration, I see no such risk. We will have demonstration guards and we have good contact with the dialogue police.