NATO Protest in Turkey: 'Turkey's Role Serves American Interests'

A protest against NATO took place in Pazar, Turkey, organized by a coalition of labor unions, political parties, and civil society groups including the All Pensioners Union, Halkevleri, CHP, SOL Party, Atatürkist Thought Association, and Eğitim Sen. Protesters marched to Cumhuriyet Square, criticizing NATO's role and Turkey's participation.

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NATO is no longer a security organization, it has become an organization of colonial exploitation by imperialists. Turkey joined NATO for its security, but today Turkey must protect itself from NATO.

CHP Pazar District Chairman Ömer Hocaoğlu stated that NATO has transformed from a security organization into a tool for imperialists and colonial exploitation. He asserted that Turkey, which joined NATO for security, now finds itself needing protection from the alliance. Hocaoğlu argued that entities profiting from conflict, such as arms and drug dealers, do not desire peace or health, and that NATO's actions demonstrate this contradiction, posing a threat to Turkey.

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Arms sellers do not want peace, drug sellers do not want health, and religion sellers do not want science. This is the perspective needed. Recent events clearly show these contradictions. Turkey joined NATO for its security, but today NATO has become a threat to the country.

Yaşar Çalışkan of the SOL Party described NATO as a "spearhead of imperialism" that has shaped global dynamics. He noted that a new phase is emerging, involving not only external powers but also internal actors within Turkey aligned with this project. Çalışkan criticized the current Turkish government's legitimacy, suggesting it relies on fulfilling external expectations rather than the will of the people, particularly in the context of reshaping the Middle East and Black Sea regions. He specifically stated that Turkey's assigned role in this process is to act in accordance with American interests.

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NATO is a war organization. NATO is the spearhead of imperialism. The world was shaped through NATO. But a new phase has begun. Not only external powers, but also in Turkey, there is a government that is part of this project and structures that move with this project.

The protesters expressed strong opposition to what they perceive as NATO's imperialistic agenda and its detrimental impact on Turkey. They believe the alliance's actions contradict its stated security objectives and that Turkey's current alignment serves foreign powers, undermining national interests.

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The role given to Turkey in this process is to act in line with America's interests. There are people, parties, and structures that accept this situation.