The Communist Movement of Türkiye (TKH) organized a protest at the Edirne İpsala Border Gate against the NATO exercise held 60 km from the Turkish border. TKH General President Aysel Tekerek read the press release at the event:

“We will ruin your war plans! NATO, keep your hands off the Aegean and the Balkans! 

It was announced that NATO, one of the biggest obstacles to the armed power of imperialism and world peace, has started a military exercise using the Greek ports of Alexandroupoli, Kavala and Komotini. The military exercise, which NATO announced as “Immediate Response 25” and in which the US European and African commands play the leading role, is taking place with the broad participation of countries on NATO’s southern part. This exercise, in which the US will participate with three thousand soldiers, and a total of 12 thousand NATO soldiers will participate with their naval and land forces, is a part of the dark war plans of NATO.

The exercise, planned to take place only 60 kilometers from Türkiye and involving extensive participation of naval and land forces from various countries, is evidence that NATO’s aggressive role in the region is expanding in scope.

It is known that the exercises carried out by the US army under the name of Defender Europe in different countries of Europe since 2020 have played a role in preparing the ground for war and conflict in Europe. NATO, which has carefully chosen an exercise geography that has reinforced its expansion towards Russia since 2020, has preferred extensive exercises and military buildups in the Southern European area since 2022, which coincides with the goal of a conflict geography in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The United States’ decision to strengthen its presence in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, along with the implementation of such a large-scale exercise in the Aegean Sea—considered NATO’s southern flank—is evidence of its increasingly aggressive stance against various powers, primarily Russia and China. The U.S., conducting destabilization rehearsals in the Eastern Mediterranean and reshaping countries in the Balkans under the pretext of a “Russian threat,” is clearly demonstrating through NATO-led military exercises that it views the region as a potential battlefield. By maintaining a strong military presence, the U.S. not only brings all NATO member states into line but also sends a clear message to its rivals about its unquestionable power. Through NATO, the U.S. is turning the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean into heavily militarized zones.

It is not only the countries in the Balkans that are being brought into line and militarized, but also Türkiye. Although Türkiye, a member of NATO, has officially stated through formal channels that it is “aware of the exercise,” this acknowledgment does not alter the objectives and intentions behind the exercise. Through such a large-scale military drill conducted just 60 kilometers from its border, Türkiye is being brought into line, with its position and direction being imposed upon it.

The AKP government’s remarks of “we are informed” are nothing but an open admission of its support for the U.S. These statements once again highlight the AKP government and the capitalist state’s collaborative role, their allegiance to imperialism, and their service to the United States—the “majesty of the world”—and to its “police force,” NATO. The role that the AKP and the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) are eager to assume by signaling “we are ready” in response to NATO and the U.S., who are telling Türkiye to “act quickly,” is both dangerous and shameful for the working people of our country. No one but the working class can respond to this collaborationism, which has been a source of disgrace in our nation’s past, present, and future.

The pursuit of independence and freedom by the working class lies in standing against NATO, the U.S., and the collaborationist government. These exercises by NATO in the Aegean Sea and the Balkans—an alliance soaked in blood and an enemy of working people—pose grave threats not only to Türkiye’s workers but also to the region’s working classes. The strong reaction shown by the Greek working class and communists on the other side of the Aegean is a clear symbol of opposition to this threat. The message sent today from İpsala by Türkiye’s working class and communists to their Greek comrades carries the same determination and direction. We salute the struggle led by the fraternal communist party across the Aegean, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). As they have declared in their own language, we too shout the same slogan: “Not a single inch of land or drop of water for the murderers of the people!”

Today, our party, the Communist Movement of Türkiye (TKH), maintains the same uncompromising and determined stance against NATO and imperialism. Every additional hour spent here by NATO and its troops—who have stained our country with blood in the past and are poised to do so again in the future—is against the interests of the Turkish working class, the laboring masses, and all who seek a brighter future. The demand of workers, revolutionaries, progressives, patriots, and communists in Türkiye, who have fought resolutely against NATO and the U.S. for years, is clear and unambiguous: Seize the bases, Yankee go home!

On the occasion of this exercise, our party, the Communist Movement of Türkiye, once again reminds that Türkiye’s independence, as well as stability and peace in the Aegean and the Balkans, can only be achieved through NATO’s withdrawal. NATO is a war organization, and peace and security for workers can only come with its dissolution.

Furthermore, this exercise proves once more that NATO serves nothing other than the interests of U.S. imperialism. Therefore, not a single child of Türkiye’s working class should participate in “cross-border” operations for this war machine. The sons and daughters of Türkiye’s working class will not kill or die for NATO!

Our party, the Communist Movement of Türkiye, calls on all workers to fight for these goals: to reclaim the independence of our enslaved country and to oppose the policies of the war machine NATO.

Let independence and peace, not war and imperialism, reign on both shores of the Aegean!

“TÜRKİYE’S INDEPENDENCE IS ONLY POSSIBLE THROUGH LEAVING NATO!”

Ahmet Tarık Yenil, Member of the Central Committee of TKH, stated the following in his speech:

“The protest we make today will go down in history. We are at Türkiye’s border gate. Just 60 kilometers away, the terrorist organization NATO is carrying out a large-scale military exercise that excludes Türkiye. Of course, on the other side of the border, Greek communists and workers are resisting. On this side, in Anatolia, we will escalate this struggle.

What is the fundamental pillar of today’s fight against imperialism?

Türkiye’s independence is only possible through leaving NATO.

That black mark imposed on this country in 1952 by the much-praised Menderes government will be cleansed by the patriots and communists of this country.

Our march for independence, for equality, for justice, for socialism will continue to grow and rise.”