Extracts form the Political Document of the 37^th Congress of the Communist Party of Belgium

 

War and World Anti-Imperialist Resistance

 

After the destruction of socialism in the Soviet Union (1991), a series of wars began, which today threaten to turn into a third world war and degenerate into a nuclear catastrophe.

No longer hampered by a socialist state equal to its adversary, the Soviet Union, the United States, together with its NATO allies and proxy mercenaries, organized the invasions, mass bombings and occupation of Yugoslavia (1999), Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003), Libya (2011), Syria (2011) and Donbass (2014). 

The world economy is going through a deep crisis. This crisis of world capitalism is accelerating the decline of the United States, which rose to the top of the imperialist world after the powers of old Europe were weakened by two world wars. Although the imperialists received a major boost to their failing economies after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, their economic system is again in crisis and their hegemony is failing, as more and more countries break away from their economic and political control.

The great power that is the United States is weakened because its hegemony is increasingly challenged by China in particular, which surpasses the United States economically, and Russia, which is positioning itself independently and against American dominance. China and Russia are targeted by the United States because they stand in the way of complete US global dominance. It is clear that the decline of US hegemony is increasingly orienting NATO policy towards a military confrontation with China and Russia.

 

Propaganda wars, trade and sanctions wars, military wars

               

In its desperation to save its economic system and international dominance, the United States has engaged in relentless wars against any country that tries to get out or remain free from its control. "Proxy" wars, in which the army of a small dependent country is deployed to fight the wars of the United States. Relentless trade wars and sanctions aimed at crushing the growth of emerging economies. Support separatist movements aimed at undermining sovereignty and destabilizing territories. Creating and financing national opposition movements and propaganda wars: manipulating the mass media. All avenues are followed to try to achieve so-called "regime change" in any country that has friendly relations with the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation or any other nation that has chosen the path of sovereignty and independence. All over the world, poor and oppressed peoples and workers face the same enemy: the imperialist bloc led by the United States, whether represented by the European Union, NATO, the OAS, the Five Eyes, Aukus, the IMF, the World Bank or any other front for US imperial interests.

 

Asia, Africa, Latin America

               

In addition to Russia, many other countries are still subject to threats and aggression from the United States.

In East Asia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has been living in the shadow of war for decades, while provocations and aggression against the People's Republic of China are intensifying at an alarming rate. The peoples of the Middle East have suffered from an endless series of aggressive and barbaric wars in recent decades, particularly in Iraq, Libya and Syria, in addition to the constant provocations against the Islamic Republic of Iran since its founding and the almost daily massacres of the Palestinian people since 1948.

Meanwhile, the plundering of the African continent has been accompanied by the instigation of an endless "resource war" by the imperialists. In Congo, it's cheap coltan hunting. Behind the war in eastern Congo, there is the Rwandan regime, and behind this regime, there is the United States, which wants to take control of the Congo. The Rwandan regime exports minerals that are not on its territory, but on that of its neighbor.  Sub-Saharan countries are also characterized by violent repression and armies sponsored by former colonizing countries and Israel. Against the Republic of Eritrea, the United States organized a border war with Ethiopia in 1998.

In Latin America, considered by the US as its "backyard", two centuries of imperialist exploitation by the US have resulted in plunder and poverty. In order to break the unity and integration of peoples, and to keep them divided and weak, we have seen: military interventions, as in Panama, Chile and Grenada; an endless succession of coups, as in Honduras, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Venezuela, Guatemala and Brazil. Occupation of the Malvinas Islands in Argentina and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, from where the imperialists are strengthening their military domination over the region. Today, inhumane economic sanctions are suffocating and ruining Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.

 

War in Ukraine

 

It is in this light that we understand NATO's provocation of a proxy war against Russia on the territory of Ukraine. At any moment, this war threatens to lead to a wider regional conflict and a direct confrontation between NATO forces and the peoples of the world. NATO's aggression is directed not only against Russia, but against any state or movement that seeks to pursue a policy of independence or sovereign development.

 

 

In this sense, NATO member states have been invited to increase their military spending by at least 2% of their GDP and to militarily support the US offensive war in Ukraine.

- extending NATO to Sweden and Finland

- by sending financial aid, soldiers and military equipment to the Zelenskiy regime:

Abrams, Challenger, Leopard I (later Leopard II) battle tanks, ammunition (every day as much as a small NATO country orders per year), artillery, howitzers, (long-range Stinger, Javelin, Himars 80 km) (Patriot 160 km) missiles, soon F16 fighter planes (pilots are already in training), machine guns, cannons, armored cars, (Iveco LMV lynx),  anti-tank guns. Submarines and battleships are on the wish list.

These weapons are used to bomb cities in Donbass, Crimea, Ukraine and to strike targets on Russian territory.

 

NATO and Belgium

 

In Belgium, the purchase of new F35 fighter-bombers for an amount of 6 billion, increased maintenance costs by an additional 6 billion, an increase in the Belgian military budget of 100%. Spending more money on the so-called "defence", the arms industry, is done directly at the expense of the social needs of the population, public services, hospitals, social housing and schools.

Belgium has sent €316 million in military aid to Zelenskiy's fascist regime, soldiers to Bulgaria, F16 fighter jets and soldiers to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Michel Hofman, Chief of Staff of the Belgian Army, argues for the introduction of conscription in the future, because "a potential necessity could arise that we must defend ourselves".

Belgium is not only participating in NATO's offensive against Russia. This is largely organised from Belgium, from NATO Headquarters in Evere and NATO's Central Command Centre in Europe) in Mons.

Belgium maintains nuclear weapons ready at the KleineBrogel base. There is an American military air base in Chièvres.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton promises that by the end of 2023, European companies will have produced one million grenades, that the European defence industry will switch to a "war economy".

 

 

 

 

STOP THE U.S. WAR

Libya

 

In secular and independent Libya (2011), the United States directly supported religious fundamentalists and al-Qaeda terrorists.   The UN Security Council (in which China and Russia) did not oppose the NATO bombing at that time. As a result, all infrastructure, water, electricity, schools, hospitals, jobs were destroyed. A tsunami of heavily armed mercenaries, such as ISIS, has risen, murdered thousands and invaded the world, destabilizing regimes in the service of imperialism. A tidal wave of refugees has risen from Africa to Europe.

 

 

 

Syria

 

The turning point in the attitude of China and Russia came after the US aggression against Syria. In 2011, the US organized the "Free Syrian Army," with the aim of overthrowing the secular and independent regime in Achad.

. When that failed, the mujahideen and ISIS emerged in Syria, backed by the proxies of Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar. From 2015, Russia and China actively support Syria against this aggression, Russian warplanes are deployed for the liberation of Syria.

 DONBASS – UKRAINE

 

This war is an aggressive imperialist war waged by the United States.

Today, on the part of US imperialism (led by a small group of people, the US military-industrial complex), the real war is a coherent, imperialist and aggressive world war waged by the US. The main frontlines of this war today are in China, Korea, the Middle East and Ukraine.

The United States sends its allies and mercenaries to Ukraine, equipped with enormous military equipment. The goal of this war is for Russia to weaken and realize strategy of global hegemony by forcing Ukraine to fight with Russia. International society, witnessing the grave situation caused by the actions of the United States, understands who is the main culprit and destroyer of peace that disrupts stability and provokes wars around the world.

As US presidential adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski put it in 1997:

"The political goal of the United States: to perpetuate America's dominant position, exercise America's global primacy, be the world's first and only superpower, and remain the world's last superpower." Given Eurasia's central position (Europe and Asia): "Preventing the emergence of a dominant and antagonistic Eurasian power – which challenges America – remains central to America's ability to exercise global primacy." Potentially, the most dangerous scenario would be a grand coalition of China, Russia and perhaps Iran, an "anti-hegemonic" coalition. "

 

MILITARY ALLIANCES

 

On the international scene, we see the existence of two military alliances.          

On the one hand, there is the aggressive imperialist alliance led by US imperialism, which includes 30 NATO countries and armies, and in East Asia also Japan, South Korea and Australia.

Against this alliance, on the other hand, a de facto military alliance of China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Belarus, Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua was formed and strengthened after the installation of US sanctions against Russia and China.

Already in 2001, on June 15, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was established with China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as members. Their first joint military exercises took place in 2003.

 

 

On May 24, 2022, following a provocation by the United States, Russian Tu-95MS and Chinese H-6K strategic bombers jointly patrolled the waters of the East China Sea.

On 15 May 1992, the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was established. Since 1994, its members have been Russia, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. From 5 to 11 January 2022, CSTO armies were deployed to Kazakhstan in response to attempts to overthrow the Kazakh government.

The military alliance between China and DV Korea has existed since DV Korea's existence began in 1945. It was reinforced by President Xi Jinping's visit to the DPRK on June 20-21, 2022. The alliance between Russia and the DPRK has historical roots in the Soviet Union's military contribution to the Korean Liberation War and the liberation of Korea in 1945. This contribution was mentioned by President Putin during North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Vladivostok in April 2019.

Military cooperation exists between Russia and Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela.  After President Chavez condemned the invasion of Afghanistan and nationalized the oil industry, President Obama called it a "threat to the security of the United States," ending all cooperation. Chavez turned to Russia, which supplied military equipment, including fighter jets, in 2008 for its security. 

 

Global solidarity – votes at the UN

 

In addition to this close military alliance against US imperialism, a global alliance is being formed. This became clear on March 2, 2022, when the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine. 114 countries supported the resolution, including the United States and its NATO allies, as well as Japan, Australia and South Korea. Five countries voted against: Russia, Belarus, Russia, Syria, the socialist Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Eritrea. 52 countries expressed their opposition by abstaining or not voting. Among them, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos and China. It should be noted that the large number of African States expressed their dissatisfaction by abstaining: Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Morocco. From Latin America, there were the Alba countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador. In Asia, the abstentions of Iran, India, Pakistan and even Iraq are remarkable. On October 12, 2022 (and later in March 2023), the general vote of the UN Assembly showed a similar picture. The United States condemned Russia for the Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporizheh and Kherson referendums. The US resolution was supported by 143 votes, 5 against and 48 abstained or did not take part in the vote.

This US resolution was a call to President Zelensky to continue and prolong the war and try to conquer Donbass and Crimea.

 

Resistance of China, DPR of Korea, Donbass

 

In China, the war of national liberation, unleashed by Mao Zedong, liberated mainland China from occupation by Japanese imperialism on October 1, 1949, and began the socialist revolution and transformation of the country into a socialist country. The United States occupies and arms Taiwan as a base against the mainland. On China's side, this current, still unfinished war aimed at the reunification of the country is a just, legitimate, defensive and progressive war.

In the Middle East, in Asia, the United States invaded and bombed Afghanistan in 2001, Iraq in 2003, Libya in 1986 and 2011, Syria from 2011.

In the People's Republic of Korea, the Korean People's Army overcame the Japanese occupation in 1945 and Kim Il Sung founded a socialist state in the North. South Korea was occupied by the United States, which (along with 7 NATO countries) fought a war from 1950 to 1953, killing 4 million people. This war is not over and continues to this day. The United States has signed a ceasefire, but no peace agreement. They still occupy South Korea with 80 military bases and 24,000 soldiers. Every year, they organize military maneuvers with the South Korean military with the scenario of an invasion of North Korea. From South Korea, Thaad missiles threaten both North Korea and China. On the part of the DPR of Korea, this war is still  a just, legitimate and defensive war of liberation, aimed at the reunification of their country. 

In Donbass, Donetsk and Luhansk, the people are fighting in a just, defensive, liberating, legitimate and progressive war. Russia's intervention is positive insofar as Russia supports this war of national liberation on the territory of Donbass. Without Russian help, the Donbass republics would have been brutally oppressed and the population massacred by the fascist regime of President Zelensky.

 

The Poroshenko-Zelensky regime in Kiev is a fascist regime

 

"Fascism is an open terrorist dictatorship of the most reactionary, chauvinist and imperialist elements of finance capital."

The current Zelensky regime in Ukraine meets all the criteria of a fascist regime.

 

After the overthrow of the Soviet Union in 1991, the United States encouraged conflicts and wars between former Soviet republics, such as Russia and Ukraine. The US acted to keep the nascent Russian capitalist state weak. In November 2013, the US financed and organized the pro-fascist Maidan uprising in Kiev against the pro-Russian government of Yanukovych. The United States mobilized the most reactionary nationalist forces, the supporters of the Nazi collaborator of World War II, Stepan Bandera. In February 2014, these gangs destroyed government buildings, offices of communist and workers' organizations, monuments to Lenin and commemorating the Soviet Union, and overthrew the government. The newly installed regime was fascist in its essence, Ukrainian in its forms, and American in its aims and policies. Especially in eastern Ukraine (Donbass, Mariupol, Odessa), resistance has grown. Poroshenko, president of Ukraine since May 25, has violently suppressed this growing resistance. On May 2, 2014, fascist gangs burned alive 40 people in the Odessa trade union building. In Donbass, a popular uprising drove out fascist representatives. The working class, especially miners and metalworkers, confiscated weapons from police stations and army barracks, and erected barricades around government buildings. Poroshenko launched a military campaign against Donbass, bombing schools, hospitals, homes and power plants, killing 14,000 people between 2014 and 2022. But neither he nor the future President Zelynsky was able to take the capitals of Donetsk and Luhansk from the inhabitants of Donbass, who were fighting in a just, defensive and legitimate war of liberation. Russia's intervention is positive insofar as Russia supports this war of liberation on the territory of Donbass.

 

 

 

China's peace proposal

 

On February 24, 2023, China proposed a 12-point peace plan, including

- respect for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity of all countries

- the legitimate security interests of all countries are to be respected

- cessation of hostilities. Cease firing. All countries should help Russia and Ukraine to resume direct dialogue

- peaceful resolution of the crisis through dialogue and negotiation

- protect civilian populations and prisoners of war. Do not attack civilians or civilian institutions. Protection of women, children and other victims.Exchange of prisoners of war.

- No attacks on nuclear power plants. Engage the International Nuclear Energy Agency.

- Promote grain transport along the Black Sea

- Stop unilateral sanctions

- Maintain industrial and supply chains

 

Joe Biden and VolodomirZelenskiy rejected this proposal. Their ambition is to conquer Donbas and Crimea militarily, to move NATO to the border with Russia, and then Russia: to weaken, conquer and divide, as happened with Yugoslavia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is attacking on the territory of Russia. As early as December 2022, there were heavy blasts at two major air bases in Russia hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine, probably by drones. The largest Russian city on the border with Ukraine, Belgorod, has been under attack for more than a year, ammunition depots or fuel depots exploding.  Ukraine dynamited the Nordstream pipeline from Russia to Europe, attacking all the Kremlin in Moscow with drones.  On Tuesday morning, May 30, 2023, drones attacked residential neighborhoods in Moscow and hit three apartment buildings.

 

 

Self-determination

 

Already on March 16, 2014, the people of Crimea decided in a referendum to secede from fascist Ukraine and reunite with Russia. On 11 May 2014, 89% of the population of Donetsk and 96% of the population of Lugansk voted in referendums for the establishment of the independent Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic. Since then, their territory no longer belongs to Ukraine. In September 2022, 98% in Lugansk, 99% in Donetsk, 93% in Zaporija and 87% in Kherson voted in referendums to become Russia territory. Chapter 1, Article 1, Part 2 of the Charter of the United Nations states: 'the principle of the equal rights of peoples and their right to self-determination'.

Our country, Belgium, was part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands until 1830. In 1830, Belgium separated from the Kingdom of the Netherlands by a revolution and became an independent state and was recognized worldwide. The United States of America was founded by breaking away from the British Empire. Hawaii officially became the fiftieth state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is clear that the United States recognizes only for itself the right to self-determination and secession, and the right to accept new territories in the state.

Lenin concluded in his book "On the Right of Nations to Self-Determination" that the right to self-determination of all nations includes the right to secede and exist as a separate independent nation-state. He cited Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, who from the 1840s supported Poland's demand for independence and, in 1869, Ireland's struggle for independence from England. Lenin approved the Norwegian people who seceded from Sweden in 1905, after an overwhelming majority in a referendum. Lenin had great appreciation for Rosa Luxemburg. But in a lively and deep polemic, Lenin condemned her policy, which did not recognize the principle of self-determination and the separation of nations, nor the struggle for the independence of Ireland and Poland.

Rosa Luxemburg's refusal to support Lenin's struggle for Polish independence was considered by Lenin as "support for the people of the 'Black Hundred – Great Russians'".

 

Stop this U.S. war

 

For the peoples to be free, every (of the world's 800) U.S. NATO base, military installation, biolab and spy facility must be dismantled. Every imperialist soldier must be sent back to his homeland. We must refuse to write, print or broadcast us and NATO war propaganda. We must expose the lies of the imperialists in our own media and show the people that they have a side in this war; that it is urgent and in the interest of all suffering humanity that the imperialists be defeated and that we must fight together with all those who are willing to work for this purpose. Wherever NATO armies are reckless enough to start a war, they must be defeated on the battlefield and behind the lines. Workers must refuse to fight in the armies and proxy forces of the US. We must refuse to move their men and machines. We must boycott and disrupt every aspect of the aggressive and criminal war machine.

 

Belgium out of  NATO, NATO  out of Belgium !

 

In Belgium, the fight against US imperialism and in particular against NATO is the first priority. Our country has been a founding member and an unconditional servant of NATO since its founding in 1949. We demand:

- Belgium out of  NATO , NATO out of  Belgium, dissolution of NATO

- the closure of NATO headquarters in Evere, SHAPE (NATO Central Command Centre in Europe) in Mons, and the US military airbase in Chièvres.

- the departure of the nuclear bombs from KleineBrogel, no placement of update B61-12

- no increase in military budgets to 2% of GDP, the reduction in military expenditure and the cancellation of the government's agreement to purchase F-35 fighter jets whose final estimated cost is EUR 15 billion. Spending this money on public services, hospitals, schools, social housing.

- no transit of US/NATO troops and armoured vehicles through the territory of Belgium for transit

- no participation of Belgium in the NATO war against Donbas and against Russia. Return home of Belgian soldiers from Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania  and of all Belgian troops on foreign missions

– return of the Belgian F16 from Latvia

- no Belgian money, weapons, training of soldiers to the NATO war of Biden and Zelenskiy against Russia and Donbas

 

 

For an international front of nations and working class against the US imperialist war

 

The first responsibility of all peoples throughout the world and the international working class is to build a global alliance, to resist the US-led imperialist war and to eliminate US imperialism and NATO.  This: in every country, on every continent and all over the world.

We invite all social movements, parties and countries to join us in our efforts to unite the peoples of the world. Together, we have the power to stand up to the US-led imperialist bloc and overthrow the colonial system that brings instability, poverty and human rights violations to the masses through political repression, economic plunder and military coercion. The participants in this alliance must develop broad front organizations in their own countries and concrete and practical mass actions against the United States and NATO. As a communist party, we must therefore actively intervene in peace movements, in Belgium and internationally, and contribute to their revival and radicalization by building an anti-imperialist front.

 

People of the world: unite against imperialism!

Defeat of the US-led neo-Nazi NATO warmongers; Victory for the resistance!

Yankee  go home!

 

The perspective of a world without war: socialism.

 

The defeat of NATO and the elimination of US imperialism is a necessary step. This defeat and elimination will open the possibility and prospect of a new phase.  In this new phase of history, a world of permanent lasting peace can be built. The struggle for peace is inextricably linked to the need to demolish capitalism and its criminal institutions and to fight for socialism. This is only possible when revolutions and socialism have eliminated the source of war: capitalism and imperialism.

We live in the stage of imperialism. The world is divided under capitalist financial monopolies. They fight for a redistribution of the world, they have to compete for sources of raw materials, areas of investment and export of capital, markets and cheap labor. They turn countries into colonies, semicolons and dependent countries. In this struggle for a redistribution of the world, the most powerful monopolies can survive only by launching wars of aggression and annexation, to eliminate the weak.

 These wars can only be stopped once and for all when the revolutionary parties of the working class around the world overthrow the capitalist states and create socialist societies, where the working class and workers own the means of production.