Atatürk warned 91 years ago: ‘It cannot be left to the whim of an adventurous aggressor’
According to a post by the Ministry of National Defense (MSB), on March 24, a delegation led by Major General Jean-Pierre Fague (France), Commander of the Multinational Joint Headquarters-Ukraine, and Deputy Commander Major General Richard Stewart Charles Bell (United Kingdom) visited the Naval Component Command planned to be stationed in Anadolukavağı/Beykoz. In response, the words spoken by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, in 1935 have once again become a topic of discussion.
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WHAT HAPPENED?
In accordance with Article 92 of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey, the authority to decide on “permitting the presence of foreign armed forces in Turkey and declaring war in cases deemed legitimate by international law” belongs to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). While the failure to comply with legislation and acting without obtaining the necessary permission has caused reactions, the meeting between AKP Chairman and President Erdoğan and Laurence Douglas Fink, Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and BlackRock, which invests in Israeli companies, has raised questions.
ATATÜRK'S WORDS ARE BACK ON THE AGENDA
While the AKP government is criticized by some circles for pursuing a foreign policy that is submissive to NATO, an interview that the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, gave to American journalist Gladys Baker, which is available on the MSB website, has become a topic of discussion.
‘SOME LEADERS’
Shedding light on the present day from the aforementioned interview, Atatürk draws attention to world leaders by stating, “Some leaders who do not take the seriousness of war into account have become the ‘agents’ of the tools of aggression. They have deceived the nations under their control by incorrectly presenting and abusing nationalism and tradition.”
‘AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION’
Regarding the sudden outbreak of a war, Atatürk says, “The quickest and most effective measure is the establishment of an international organization that will clearly explain to an expected aggressor that aggression will not bring any benefit,” and emphasizes the value of regional agreements.
WHAT ABOUT THE STRAITS?
In response to Baker’s question, “Why does Turkey want to arm the Straits?”, Atatürk replies, “Since the Treaty of Lausanne, where Turkey agreed to keep the Straits open, the world situation and certain conditions have changed. The Straits divide Turkish territory into two parts. Therefore, the fortification of this sea passage is very important for Turkey’s security and defense. It is also a vital element of international relations. Such an important place, which acts as a key, cannot be left to the whim and mercy of any adventurous aggressor. Turkey must prevent potential peace-breakers from passing through the Straits to fight each other.”
News: Cenk Başboğaoğlu