Tens of Thousands Rally in Rome Against European Military Escalation

Tens of Thousands Rally in Rome Against European Military Escalation
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Rome to protest against European rearmament and growing military tensions, calling for diplomacy and a halt to global escalation. The march began at Porta San Paolo and was marked by strong peace symbolism, with prominent displays of Palestinian and peace flags. One of the key banners read “Stop World War III,” reflecting rising public concern over the risk of large-scale conflict.

The demonstration brought together over 480 organizations, including trade unions, student groups, and NGOs such as Sbilanciamoci, the Italian Peace and Disarmament Network, Greenpeace, and the Perugia-Assisi Foundation. Political groups including the Five Star Movement and the Green-Left Alliance participated, alongside individual members of the Democratic Party.

Giuseppe Conte, leader of the Five Star Movement, described the protest as a “shared step forward,” highlighting the broad political consensus around the demand for peace. Chants during the protest criticized NATO and Israeli military policies, reflecting growing public disapproval of Western military strategies.

In response, Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stressed the need for NATO to engage more with the Global South to remain a relevant force for peace. He also clarified that Italy has not received any requests to use U.S. military bases on its territory for operations in the Middle East, signaling Rome’s cautious stance on deeper regional involvement.