2026 Activities – Page 2 – IPB – International Peace Bureau

Tectonic Geopolitical Changes: Which Way to Peace and A Nuclear Weapon-Free World

On the Eve of the NPT Review Conference International Civil Society Demands an End to Wars & a Nuclear Weapons-Free World

At a time when the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock had been set to 85 seconds to midnight—the closest ever to global catastrophe—and when the viability of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was under increasing strain, an international coalition of nuclear disarmament and peace organizations gathered on the eve of the 11th NPT Review Conference. The moment reflected what Antonio Gramsci described as a “time of monsters,” in which the old world is dying and the new struggles to be born.

The world spent $2.88 trillion in the military in 2025. Take a stand with us today and protest this nonsense!

Today (Monday 27) might be the most important day of this year’s Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS), with several events taking place all across the world.

SIPRI has just published new data on military spending for the year 2025, and the figures show a new growth in military spending, reaching $2.88 trillion, an increase of 2.9% compared to last year, marking he 11th consecutive year of growth and the highest spending level ever recorded by SIPRI.Global military expenditure rose in 2025 despite a drop in spending by the United States, the world’s biggest spender. A sharp increase in European spending and continued growth in Asia and Oceania were more than enough to offset the decrease in US spending during the year. World military expenditure excluding the USA grew by 9.2 per cent in 2025. The five biggest spenders in 2025 were the United States, China, Russia, Germany and India, which together accounted for 58% of world military spending. The USA’s military spending fell by 7.5 per cent to $954 billion in 2025, while China’s spending rose by 7.4 per cent to an estimated $336 billion.

GDAMS 2026 Appeal · A Call to Action Against Global Militarization

The global security landscape has deteriorated massively in recent years: the number of wars and violent armed conflicts active today is the highest since the end of World War II, erupting across the world and drawing in an unprecedented number of states and actors. From Gaza and the West Bank, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Ukraine, Venezuela, Iran, and beyond, levels of violence, civilian suffering, and violations of international law have reached heinous heights, including the commission of genocide.

For a New Foundation of International Institutions

The United States’ withdrawal from UNESCO,combined with the drastic reduction of its financial aid to UN agencies promoting the achievement of the SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals), was already undermining the objective of “human security” theorized by the UNDP in 1994 and progressively highlighted by various UN agencies, as acknowledged for example by Bertrand Badie in his book”L’Art de la Paix”(“The Art of Peace”-2024).

We are now witnessing a new assault on the United Nations(UN) with the establishment by the President of the United States of a “Peace Council”,with prerogatives that would extend beyond the question of Gaza.

Save the dates for GDAMS 2026:April 10 to May 9

From Gaza, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Ukraine, Venezuela and Iran, levels of violence, civilian suffering, and violations of international law have reached heinous heights, including the perpetration of genocide.

This surge in conflict is not accidental or inescapable, it reflects a broader resurgence of imperialism and militarization, spearheaded by the US, in which brute force, military might and coercion have become dominant tools of international relations. Powerful states and regional actors continue to wage and fuel wars – not only through direct intervention but also through extensive arms transfers, strategic alliances and geopolitical competition – prioritizing narrow interests over human security and peace.

Sean Conner: “Venezuela represents a change in the tactics of war with immeasurable consequences”

02.02.26- Santiago, Chile – Pablo Ruiz Espinoza in Pressenza International

The attack on Venezuela by the United States and a series of threats, the application of sanctions and punishments, through blockades or the raising of tariffs, against Mexico, Cuba, Colombia, Iran, Canada, Greenland, among others, represent a clear threat to International Law, returning to the law of the strongest.

On the other hand, militarization continues in Europe, and four years will have passed since the start of the war in Ukraine, where efforts continue to perpetuate this conflict by sending more weapons and militarizing Europe itself.

On these topics, the following is an interview with Sean Conner, Executive Director of the International Peace Bureau (IPB). Conner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Intercultural and Critical Communication Studies from the State University of New York at Geneseo and a Master of Arts degree in Intercultural Conflict Management.

No to War, No to Abduction: IPB Calls for Global Opposition to U.S. Intervention in Venezuela

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) firmly condemns the US military strikes in Venezuela, and the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife to stand trial in the US. This illegal act of war has already led to the death of civilians and military personnel alike and risks throwing both Venezuela and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region into greater instability and deeper conflict. Though the US claims that the military intervention is over, we must be wary of continued military and non-military intervention in Venezuela during this sensitive and volatile moment – as we have seen in past instances such as post-Gaddafi Libya, there is likely further instability to come.

Manifesto: No to Global NATO – Yes to Common Security

NATO is an increasing obstacle to achieving world peace. It is no longer an organization confined to the North Atlantic: it is the world’s largest military alliance, with allies and partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has reinvented itself as a tool for military action, psychological warfare, worldwide military and political interventions, and accessing resources and markets; it often claims to undertake these actions on behalf of the “international community”. With its partnerships and joint operations, it is a vehicle for the US strategic goal of global dominance; reinforced by military bases on all continents, it bypasses the United Nations and the system of international law, accelerating militarization, escalating arms expenditures and fueling arms races.