Demonstrators were chanting slogans and holding banners. One of the them, Joselyne de Markten, explained her reasons for being at the rally.
“We are protesting the growing militarism of the EU and the NATO member states' role in fueling conflict and oppression against the world, around the world,” she said.
Chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO summit is set to discuss the most urgent issues for its members concerning international security and military affairs.
Transatlantic trade agreements as well as the US withdrawal from both the global climate pact and Iran nuclear deal are on the summit’s agenda, as are defense spending contributions. The Two-day summit kicked off yesterday on July 11,2018 in the Belgian capital of Brussels.
In addition to the delegations of the NATO member states, heads of tens of partner states, as well as the participants of the Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan are invited to attend the summit at different formats.
The summit is shaping up to be one of the most difficult alliance gatherings in years as Trump continues to pressure NATO allies to increase their military spending.
Trump has repeatedly criticized alliance members for their levels of defense spending ahead of the meeting.
In a series of tweets and comments to reporters as he departed Washington, D.C., on July 10, Trump suggested NATO's other 28 members should "reimburse" the United States for its spending on the alliance.
