Global Connection | They Protest Military Exercise for Three Days in a Row: Saying No to NATO Military Exercise | NATO | Global
"We don't want NATO to conduct this military exercise, nor do we want to escalate the situation between Russia and Ukraine," German Egon Roth told Xinhua reporters at the protest against NATO military exercises.
NATO is holding its largest air military exercise since its establishment in Germany and other places, lasting for 11 days, with approximately 10000 soldiers and 250 military aircraft of various types from 25 countries participating. For three days in a row, Germany held protests in many places, criticizing the United States led NATO for continuing to "arch fire" the Russia-Ukraine conflict by exporting military aid and large-scale military exercises.
"Say no to NATO!" This is a banner held up by German protesters. On the 10th, hundreds of people participated in protests at the Vinstov Air Force Base in the Hanover region, which serves as the logistics center for this military exercise. They called for a dialogue to resolve the Ukrainian crisis and to achieve a ceasefire as soon as possible. On the 11th, Saxony also held protests against NATO military exercises. On the 12th, a peace initiative march was held in the town of Gernhausen near Frankfurt, protesting against NATO military exercises and calling for a resolution of the Ukrainian crisis through dialogue and diplomatic means.
Someone reposted a banner from Germany protesting against NATO military exercises on social media, with the words "Say No to NATO" written on it.
"Make peace, lay down your arms!" At the scene of the peace initiative march, protesters shouted slogans.
Roth told Thomas Weifen that if NATO wants to use military exercises to show off its strength and try to intimidate others, it can only send the wrong signal. On the one hand, NATO's continuous supply of weapons to Ukraine is not conducive to achieving peace. On the other hand, NATO's provocation towards Russia through military exercises will further escalate tensions. If the frequency and scope of the exercises increase, it is likely to further deteriorate the security situation in Europe.
Inga told reporters that people hold such activities for peace and hopes that Germany will no longer continue to provide weapons to Ukraine, and that all parties will return to diplomatic solutions as soon as possible.
German security expert Johann Scholz told reporters that he is concerned that NATO will use this military exercise to instill in the European people the erroneous belief that Russia poses a threat to European security. "It is not Russia that poses a threat to Europe, but the United States, as the United States regards dominating the Eurasian continent as a prerequisite for its global control."
In addition, Europe is experiencing a peak summer air travel season. Aviation industry insiders point out that this military exercise may seriously affect civil aviation transportation.
On June 12th, a man checked flight information at Frankfurt Airport in Germany. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shan Weiyi
Matthias von Landau, Executive Director of the German Air Transport Association, said that due to military exercises, there will definitely be flight delays, even longer delays.
Arnz Scheneman, CEO of DFS Group, a German air navigation service provider, said that European civil aviation was already deeply affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and this large-scale military exercise further increased the burden on all parties.
According to German media reports, the operation of civil aviation companies has been affected and has had to be adjusted. "Passengers may need to take red eye flights, and aviation professionals may also have to work overtime.".
On June 12th, passengers checked in at Frankfurt Airport in Germany. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Shan Weiyi
This military exercise has also caused many inconveniences to the daily lives of the German people. In the town of Neustadt at the foot of the Luben Mountains near the Vinstov Air Force Base, the local government reported an increase in the number of reported network failures among nearby residents due to the impact of the military exercise.