By Mehmet Perinçek
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement of Türkiye’s request to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) raised a buzz around the world. As a consequence, the issue started to be discussed in Türkiye in various aspects as well.
Özel’s objections to the SCO
Among them, the approach of Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel stands out. Disregarding Eurasian initiatives such as the SCO and opposing Ankara’s strategic pivot to the East, Özel points out that Türkiye’s place is in the Atlantic camp.
Zyuganov’s support for the SCO
A few days after Özel’s statement, Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the main opposition party in Russia, expressed his opinion on the declaration adopted at the SCO summit.
Zyuganov represents the most significant political force opposing the government in Russia. He opposes many government policies, sometimes harshly criticising them. However, when it comes to issues of national importance, when Russia’s fundamental international interests are at stake, he does not hesitate to support the government’s policies.
Let’s look at Zyuganov’s statement:
“Friends! The SCO meeting in Astana, where the Declaration on Justice and Harmony in the World was adopted, is historic.
Under the leadership of President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, a new system of relations is being built. And not only between our countries, but also in the world as a whole.
Anglo-Saxons and Americans have declared war on the Russian world. They have declared the Communist Party of China, which has achieved outstanding results in recent years, to be enemy number one.
Think about it, in 30 years China has increased its potential almost two dozen times. It has lifted 800 million people out of total poverty and misery. It has implemented a space program and is exploring the moon. In the past year, there have been more than 50 space flights without failure.
China has become the workshop of the world. Its 30 companies produced 28 million cars last year. But it was the Soviet country that built the first 156 factories in China on Stalin’s orders.
Today, in realizing this declaration, we must put our potentials together. Because victory over Nazism and fascism, over the new American aggression, is the joint task of all progressive forces.”
The need to join forces to join the SCO
Given the threats Türkiye faces from the West, the opportunities the SCO offers Türkiye are undeniable. Firstly, the SCO brings together forces that will counterbalance this threat and ensure Türkiye’s security from the Middle East to the Eastern Mediterranean, from the Black Sea to the South Caucasus. Secondly, with the world economy shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific and energy resources accumulating in this region, the SCO presents itself as an unrivalled option for Türkiye.
Of course, not only in front of Türkiye… Based on these facts, the Russian communists support the government they oppose.
Türkiye too needs to unite as one fist in terms of alternative alliances to the West, such as the SCO, BRICS and the Organization of Turkic States.