International Conference Against Imperialism to be Held in Colombo

This month, from July 16 to 18, 2026, a historic international ideological debate and conference against imperialism will be held in Colombo, the capital of the South Asian country Sri Lanka. Under the main slogan 'Hands Off Asia', the main objective of this conference is to expose foreign intervention, Nazi military strategy, and vulture-like eyes on Asian territory.

The conference will be specially attended by the coordinator of the Communist Party of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', and top leaders of the ruling party of Sri Lanka. It is believed that the wide participation of representatives of the labor, farmer, intellectual, and women's movements in the Asian region will build a strong foundation for a new revolutionary awakening and class struggle in Asia.

• Imperialist Siege and Asia's Crisis

To protect its dwindling financial and geopolitical dominance worldwide, American imperialism is currently using all its might to make Asia the center of neo-colonial invasion. The problems faced by the Asian people due to American imperialism are not isolated or sporadic incidents, but a planned attack of an interconnected financial monopoly capitalist system woven militarily, economically, politically, and ideologically.

The most brutal and violent form of American imperialism in this region is increasing militarization. The illegal war imposed by America-Israel on Iran, the murder of its leaders and ordinary citizens, and the naked attempt to change the government in favor of imperialist interests are not hidden from anyone. To surround and pressure sovereign countries that do not obey its orders, America is spreading a vast network of military bases from the Gulf countries to Okinawa (Japan), Korea, and the Philippines in Southeast Asia.

On the economic front, imperialist financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank are destroying the economies of Asian countries by trapping them with unjust loans and high interest rates. Due to this very neo-colonial debt, countries like Sri Lanka and Pakistan have fallen into a vicious cycle of severe economic crisis.

Politically, to sustain this reactionary system, America has propped up right-wing and dictatorial governments in the region. From the Hindu nationalists of India to the neo-fascist governments of Japan and the Philippines, these rulers are acting as imperialist agents and are determined to suppress the voices of their own working people.

In countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, external forces are trying to divide the communist and progressive movements and governments, thereby obstructing the path of independent, self-reliant, and socialist-oriented development within the country. The Colombo conference will be focused against these very imperialist conspiracies.

History of Asian Resistance

We, the working people of Asia, are well aware of the brutal character of imperialism. We have never surrendered to it. The historical class struggles and revolutions of Asia, which forced imperialist powers to their knees from our lands in Korea to Vietnam, are still fresh in our consciousness.

Even today, from the people fighting against American military bases in Japan and South Korea, to the Palestinian and Iranian people directly resisting imperialist genocide, we are all actually fighting against the same common enemy on different fronts.

The historical necessity today is to unite these scattered struggles ideologically and organizationally under a common center. We should not hesitate to address this exploitative system as imperialism. In its alternative, we must put forward a clear socialist path that serves the people.

This conference will unite social movements, progressive political parties, trade unions, and mass organizations to determine a common working agenda for class struggle. The future of Asia must be in the hands of its oppressed people, and for that, we must have one strong voice: 'Hands Off Asia!'

Objectives of the Colombo Conference

Identifying the Common Imperialist System: To build a deep and integrated Marxist understanding of how the military, economic, political, and ideological aspects of the ongoing imperialist aggression in Asia today are operating as a single monopoly capitalist system, rather than being viewed separately.

Exchange of Experiences and Front Building: To exchange real experiences of struggle among revolutionary movements, leftist parties, mass organizations, and Marxist thinkers from across Asia and to build a common platform for long-term practical unity.

Development of Common Demands and Agenda: To further strengthen the 'Hands Off Asia' campaign and the demand to close all American military bases, expanding it to establish economic sovereignty, cancellation of unjust foreign debt, fair trade, and the right to self-determination of the people.

Ideological Strengthening: To sharpen the political and ideological consciousness of the organizations through study and discussion sessions, so that the daily class struggle of the people can be linked to the broader anti-imperialist movement.

Determining Future Strategy: To conduct a micro-analysis of imperialist aggression under the banner of 'Hands Off Asia', which can guide the next phase of the joint anti-imperialist movement across our continent.

• Other Windows

This conference will focus on six main topics, which will delve into the various dimensions of the integrated imperialist system faced by the Asian people.

1. Militarization of Asia

As the world moved towards a second Cold War, the United States built military infrastructure across Asia at an unprecedented level, and after the end of the Cold War, it further strengthened it. Through military and arms agreements, expansion of the base network, and integrated command structures, Washington has been weaving a web of regional conflict, which continues to this day.

The largest joint military exercise in history in the Philippines, the expansion of US military deployment in East and Southeast Asia, Japan's rapid rearmament, arms transfer to Taiwan, and the creation of a regional 'kill web' targeting China, Russia, and North Korea are concrete examples. This session will provide a full analysis of the imperialist character of this military structure.

2. Restructuring of Hegemony

Regime Change and Political Instability: Apart from direct military confrontation, America is playing a subtle but dangerous game of political instability and regime change in Asia. In Bangladesh, during the post-Hussain government transition, the re-establishment of right-wing forces like Jamaat-e-Islami and the return of forces favorable to American interests were observed.

That is an unparalleled example of imperialist regime change. In Nepal too, the game being played through various right-wing and suspicious forces to fragment the communist political environment and break progressive political consensus is part of the ideological restructuring of imperialism.

3. From Debt to Economic Siege

This economic dimension is proving to be the most destructive for the working people of Asia. Under the strict structural adjustment programs of the IMF and World Bank, countries are being forced to implement fiscal austerity, privatization of public property, and cuts in social security.

This session will explore how America is using the debt crisis and technology blockade as tools of economic oppression. In addition, the potential role of BRICS, the Belt and Road Initiative, and alternative financial structures will also be explored from a Marxist perspective.

4. Right-Wing and Elected Power

The rise of neo-fascist and right-wing forces across Asia is a result of the domestic nurturing of the imperialist system. The right-wing project of 'Hindutva' in India, along with reactionary movements in Bangladesh, Japan, and the Philippines, is performing the same strategic function.

It is working to suppress its own working people, crush progressive movements, and align national policy with the imperialist war strategy 'Quad'. This session will analyze how America is using the right-wing as a political tool to maintain imperialist dominance, not just as cultural chaos.

5. Asian Solidarity with Palestine

The inhumane massacre happening in Gaza and the war and sanctions by the American-Israeli alliance on Iran are the most dangerous forms of imperialist violence in West Asia. This war is no different from the invasion of the rest of Asia. Because behind it lies the same arms industry, the same military strategy, and the same racist, hegemonic worldview.

There will be a discussion on how the unholy alliance between 'Hindutva' and 'Zionism' is further intensifying this network of imperialist finance capital. This session will clarify how the liberation of Palestine, Iran, and Asia as a whole are interconnected, and will express Asian solidarity against the ongoing massacre in Palestine.

6. Resistance and Imperialist Horizon

This final session will focus on moving beyond problem identification to formulating concrete resistance strategies. This means learning lessons from real socialist practices in Cuba and Venezuela to Vietnam and China. Energizing revolutionary movements across Asia, this session will issue the historic declaration of the conference.

It will advance the demands for the abolition of all foreign military bases, debt relief for sovereign nations, and the cancellation of anti-people IMF conditions, and will demand an immediate halt to the inhumane war in Palestine.

The 'Hands Off Asia' Colombo conference will expose the military siege, neo-colonial economic oppression, and ideological intervention woven by American imperialism across Asia. This conference will be a strong starting point for resisting this multifaceted imperialist aggression and building a socialist-oriented prosperous Asia.

There is no alternative to all leftist, patriotic, and progressive forces uniting to restore the sovereign rights of the working people of Asia over the land and resources of Asia.