By Mehmet Perinçek
The first meeting of the Expert Council of the Standing Committee of the Forum of supporters of the struggle against modern practices of neocolonialism ‘For Freedom of Nations!’ was held on 17 December 2024, hosted by Russia’s ruling party ‘United Russia’. More than 30 experts from Eurasia, Africa and Latin America attended the first workshop. From Türkiye, Mehmet Perinçek, representative of the Vatan Party in Russia and author of United World International, attended the meeting. We present the transcript of Perinçek’s speech to your attention.
First of all, I would like to express my condolences to my Russian colleagues for the terrorist attack in Moscow today.
Today, it is possible to eliminate the negative effects of neocolonial practices on the socio-economic development of the states affected by neocolonialism and to remove the problem of the falsification of the countries’ history by the Western centers only by presenting their opposites, that is, by discussing the ways to solve them.
I will try to explain what I mean by comparing two opposite examples from Türkiye’s perspective.
I am talking about Türkiye’s accession processes to the EU and BRICS.
In fact, Türkiye’s EU accession process is a very important example of the negative effects of neo-colonial practices on the socio-economic development of states affected by neo-colonialism. The BRICS, on the other hand, is the opposite example, i.e. a solution to the problem.
In this respect, their comparison will deepen the discussion at our meeting.
BRICS and the EU are organizations with very different strategies and world projects. BRICS is an association of a multipolar world.
However, until now, tying Türkiye to the door of the EU has been part of a move to preserve a unipolar world.
On the other hand, the EU is an alliance between imperialist states. And BRICS is an organization of developing and oppressed countries. One is an imperialist alliance, the other is an alliance between countries that the imperialist states are trying to exploit. In this respect they are completely opposed to each other.
Moreover, BRICS is an organization based on equal relations. In the EU, on the contrary, we do not see a relationship between equal parties. On the contrary, we see the EU trying to remake Türkiye, interfering in its internal affairs, looking at it condescendingly and even seeking to divide and dismember it.
From Türkiye’s point of view, the EU is a chimera. The EU does not want to accept Türkiye. It is also a trap because they don’t let Türkiye in and don’t let Türkiye move away from the EU door. They are pouncing on the Turkish state, trying to soften it, divide it and weaken it from within. BRICS is not a chimera, on the contrary, it is a very realistic project. It is not an alliance that Türkiye will waste its national interests by waiting at its door for decades.
Although the EU is an imperialist union, economically it is in decline. The BRICS, on the other hand, is an association that is growing economically. Western economists and financiers recognize the fact that the world economy is already shifting to the Pacific and Asia. The underground resources and energy resources of the BRICS countries are incomparable to the EU. From this point of view, one is an economically declining project and the other is an economically growing one.
On the other hand, as a civilizational project, there are very serious contrasts. The EU represents a Western individualism that is dying out and degenerating. In Western neo-liberal civilization, human values are ignored, violence is on the rise, the concept of family is being destroyed, etc.
When we look at the BRICS, we see family, socialism, human values and love of country. As a civilizational project they are opposed to each other. Even if there was no threat from the West, BRICS would be the only option for us.
One more point: the EU is a Christian club. The EU itself does not deny this and openly demonstrates it by its behavior. BRICS has a very wide ethnic, religious and political spectrum, from Hindus to Orthodox Christians, from countries governed by socialism to Islamic geography. In this context, while the EU imposes neoliberal west-centric development models that are destructive to Türkiye’s economy, the BRICS has unique models suitable for each country’s conditions.
It should also be recognized that the two alliances contradict each other in their views on Türkiye. The EU is a project that threatens Türkiye from the Eastern Mediterranean and separatist terrorism and targets its nation-state. Türkiye’s objective interests are not in conflict with those of the BRICS countries regarding separatist terrorism, Cyprus, the South Caucasus or the Black Sea. Moreover, there is a possibility of co-operation. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) can be taken as the simplest example. The EU wants to swallow the TRNC. But Türkiye can get the TRNC recognized by the BRICS countries. Of course, if the Turkish government pursues the right policies.
The economic perspectives of the EU and BRICS are also opposed to each other. The Customs Union started before Türkiye joined the EU, and it made Turkish producers uncompetitive. BRICS is the opposite prospect for Türkiye. BRICS will give Turkish manufacturers access to a very large market and cheap energy to realize their production. On the basis of equal relations, a process will start that will lead to a boom of production in Türkiye.
Investments from BRICS countries will find their place in Türkiye on much more favorable terms for Türkiye because they will be based on an alliance based on equal relations. This is not only an economic model. A co-operation model based on common interests against US hegemony will be developed. An international economic model will be developed that will contribute to Türkiye’s independence.
Türkiye will not have to wait at the door of BRICS. The EU is tying Türkiye to its own door.
BRICS, on the contrary, needs Türkiye. The entry of a country like Türkiye into this alliance will significantly shift the global balance in favor of Eurasia.
Türkiye is a very important ally for BRICS with its strong army, economic potential, state traditions, influence on Turkic states in the region and in the Islamic world. Türkiye’s lager in the world economy will also play an important role in ending the hegemony of the dollar.
On the other hand, the EU imposes many issues on Türkiye in the EU accession process. EU even wants Türkiye to lose its national identity under the pretext of considering its own history. The EU wants the new Turkish generations to be ashamed of their history and being Turkish. This is to dynamize the foundations of the Turkish nation-state and nation. The BRICS have it the other way round. When the BRICS look at Türkiye’s history, they see a tradition of nationhood there, they see a deeply rooted, rich civilization and they respect Turkish culture and traditions.
Moreover, Türkiye’s membership in BRICS will normalize its relations with the West. Above all, Ankara will become more secure in the face of Western threats. If you are an easy target, if you are left alone, the enemy will become more aggressive. They will attack you more. Together with the BRICS, Türkiye will create a series of international alliances that will counterbalance the Western threat. As a result, if the West cannot cope with you, it will be forced to respect you. Its views and policies towards you will have to change. BRICS membership will raise Türkiye’s prestige in the West.
This may not be the topic of this discussion, but I cannot help but point out that in order to join BRICS, Türkiye must purge its foreign policy of pro-Western tendencies and give Eurasian countries credibility. For example, the trap that the Turkish government has fallen into in Syria has dealt a serious blow to the BRICS accession process.
In fact, each point here can be deepened in terms of the negative effects of neo-colonialism on the socio-economic development of the states affected by neo-colonialism, and solutions and general conclusions can be found.
Cover graphic: Euro Prospects.