As world leaders prepare to gather for the NATO summit in Hague beginning June 24, this city has transformed into a virtual fortress, drawing sharp criticism from residents and politicians alike. The massive security operation includes 5 kilometers of razor wire fencing around the venue, near-total lockdowns of major thoroughfares, and deployment of 27,000 police officers - nearly half the country's entire force. The extraordinary measures have severely disrupted daily life, with resident Marcus complaining about the impossibility of transporting his disabled companion across the paralyzed city.
The summit's record-breaking €1.834 billion price tag - working out to over €1 million per minute - has further fueled public outrage. Many citizens question the justification for such extravagant spending on a two-day meeting, with some suggesting the funds would be better spent on social programs. The controversy extends beyond street protests into the political arena, where Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has openly questioned NATO's continued relevance, declaring that the alliance "has no reason to exist" in its current form.
Adding to the discord, former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte will lead a counter-summit in the Dutch parliament, gathering opponents of NATO's military expansion. With deep divisions over defense spending and growing public resentment, the summit faces an unusually hostile environment even before formal discussions begin, setting the stage for what may prove to be one of NATO's most contentious gatherings in recent memory. The heavy security and exorbitant costs have overshadowed the meeting's agenda, raising fundamental questions about the alliance's priorities and its relationship with the citizens it claims to protect.
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