This follow-up conference to the Paris Peace Conference held in October 2025 will be in London on 20th June 2026 and could not come at a more critical moment. We are seeing war spreading across the world, and the global economy is in crisis. Talk of war has become preparation for war.
We must create our own international network which will organize for peace, oppose the revitalised US imperial project, and fight for the livelihood, indeed the very lives, of working people. We want peace. We say no to rearmament, no to conscription, and yes to well funded health, education and public services, decent jobs, and higher wages.
There are five reasons for attending the international anti-war conference on 20th June:
- War and the threat of war is spreading. Trump’s attacks and regime change in Venezuela and the siege of Cuba, the war in the Middle East, threats in the Pacific and the ongoing war in Ukraine all show the world is in a perilous state.
- Militarism is on the rise. Massive hikes in military spending are being seen throughout Europe. Europe is not just rearming but is reindustrialising for ‘defence’. In the UK, Starmer has brought forward military spending targets and wants to boost drone and military manufacturing. Macron has called for greater defence cooperation and procurement across Europe, while in Germany, Volkswagen is signalling a move from car production to military manufacturing.
- Conscription is on the up across the continent. In France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Eastern Europe, the young are being prepared to fight. Here, the government clearly plans to introduce conscription by stealth. We have been told to be ‘ready to fight’ and to prepare to sacrifice our children.
- Racism is fuelled by foreign wars – especially Middle Eastern ones. The rise in Islamophobia, the growth of Reform, Labour’s pandering to the politics of hate and anti-migrant rhetoric are all corrupting society and politics, leading to a surge in support for far-right political parties here. similar currents are witnessed across Europe.
- War comes home to bite. The war on Iran has caused economic shock waves around the world. Oil and energy prices are rising rapidly; fertiliser and food are expected to follow. The cost of living will hit us all, and the poor will pay the hardest.
The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) and the Social Workers Union (SWU) are proud to back this international anti-war conference spearheaded by the Stop the War Coalition and supported by 8 other national unions, nearly 100 union branches, and trade union councils.
Every student and worker, every trade unionist and anti-war activist is invited to join us in London on 20th June 2026 at Westminster Central Hall to attend the International Conference Against War. The pre-conference Assembly will be from 10-11:30am and the Conference will begin at 1pm (doors open 11:30am).
More information and a link to book your ticket is available on the Stop the War Coalition website: https://www.stopwar.org.uk/events/european-peace-conference
Read the full conference call here: https://d30m66y232rpq4.cloudfront.net/uploads/2026/01/260620_INVITATION1_EN.pdf