Some 300 people held a largely peaceful anti-NATO protest in Krakow's main square as the alliance's defence ministers met in the southern Polish city, dpa reported.
The protests were organized by the Stop War Initiative, the August 80 trade union and the Anarchist Federation, reported the Polish Press Agency PAP.
"We're against NATO's politics, and we demand pulling out forces from Afghanistan and a halt to the arms race," protester Katarzyna Puzon told PAP. "We find it equally absurd to be spending public money in the times of crisis."
Demonstrators held signs saying, "Stop NATO. Stop War," and "We don't want to be America's shield." The crowd included Czechs who came to oppose a US anti-missile shield, which would be based in Poland and the Czech Republic, based on current proposals.
"Europe should play a role as guardian of democracy and peace in the world and not export war," said Graziella Mascia of the European Left political party. "Events in Iraq and Afghanistan prove that the politics of war don't pay off."
Defence Minister Bogdan Klich said he thought protesters were voicing minority opinions, because it was "hard to believe" Poles want to "back out of international responsibilities, which in reality decide our security."
Organizers are planning a slew of events for the "NATO anti- summit," reported PAP, including panel discussions, concerts and film showings.
A founding member of the Cold Era Warsaw Pact, Poland joined NATO along with Hungary and the Czech Republic on March 12, 1999, about 10 years after shedding its communist past.