Distinguished participants; it is deeply disgraceful that leading up to the NATO Summit held in Ankara—the historical capital of the Turkish Revolution—peaceful patriotic youth and citizens faced detentions, bans, and suppressions. On its official platforms, NATO defines its core purpose as “guaranteeing the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.” Yet when established in 1949, the Warsaw Pact did not even exist, and since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, NATO has relentlessly expanded eastward. This proves that NATO is not a defensive alliance, but an armed instrument safeguarding the interests of global finance capital and Western imperialism.
In the collective memory of the Turkish nation, NATO translates directly to the military coups of March 12, September 12, and the July 15, 2016 insurrection. NATO represents the clandestine Gladio network responsible for political assassinations—such as General Eşref Bitlis and Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu—and the framing of patriotic officers, admirals, and leaders like Doğu Perinçek through the Ergenekon and Balyoz judicial plots to clear the path for FETÖ. In response to the Ministry of National Defense’s “We are NATO” campaign, we state clearly: We are not NATO; we are the soldiers of Mustafa Kemal. The Turkish nation is fundamentally anti-imperialist.
Washington’s demand that Türkiye relinquish its Russian-supplied S-400 missile systems in exchange for F-35 jets or fighter engine components is a strategic trap designed to leave Türkiye defenseless against Atlantic air threats. The S-400 is not merely a defense system; it is a declaration of political sovereignty. The application of CAATSA sanctions—laws designed to target Washington’s explicit enemies—against Türkiye clearly defines our geopolitical alignment alongside Russia, China, and Iran (TRÇİ).
If Türkiye maintains its presence in NATO, the sole justification must be to mitigate the alliance’s hostile intentions and utilize its veto power to block further eastward expansion. Should Armenia or South Caucasian states be integrated into NATO, Türkiye would be completely encircled from every geographic quadrant. Expanding NATO into the Caspian basin and Kazakhstan directly threatens China’s vital arteries, inevitably triggering a true Third World War. Diverting 5% of national GDP away from public welfare and pensions to finance NATO’s militarization is an act of betrayal. The question of NATO membership must immediately be put to the Turkish public via a national referendum.
