Thousands of people gathered in Athens this week to protest against NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit to Greece. The protesters were mostly from Greece’s communist party (KKE) and its youth group (KNE), who strongly oppose the involvement of NATO in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. They are angry at the Greek government for supporting NATO and the U.S. in these conflicts, accusing them of causing harm and suffering.
On Tuesday, Rutte, after visiting Turkey, met with Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias. But as they held their meeting, a large group of protesters marched through Athens. They were chanting things like “Greece out of war” and “Shut down US and NATO bases,” calling for an end to Greece’s military support for Ukraine and Israel.
The protesters were especially upset with NATO’s role in the war in Ukraine, as well as Israel’s actions in Gaza. They accused NATO of helping to escalate violence in these regions. The Greek communists went even further, calling Rutte’s visit a sign that Greece might get more involved with NATO, something they strongly oppose. They believe this could lead to more wars and even the threat of nuclear conflict.
One of the key messages from the protesters was that the Greek government, by aligning with the U.S. and NATO, is partly responsible for what they call the “genocide” happening in Gaza. They believe Greece’s support for military aid to Israel is fueling the suffering of Palestinians.
As part of their protest, the KKE/KNE demanded that Greece leave NATO, remove all U.S. and NATO military bases from the country, and redirect the money spent on military support towards things like better education and healthcare for Greek citizens.
This protest comes after other actions earlier in the month, where members of the KKE/KNE blocked a convoy of trucks carrying weapons to Ukraine. The trucks had to take a different route to avoid the protests, but not before demonstrators spray-painted the vehicles with messages like “NATO Killers Go Home.”
The protestors also pointed to the dangers of NATO’s involvement in the region. They say that Greece’s support for NATO and its role in supplying weapons to Ukraine is dangerous. Greece has been sending weapons, like armored vehicles, to help Ukraine fight Russia. The country is also involved in training Ukrainian fighter pilots. Many Greeks feel their government is putting them in the middle of a dangerous global situation, with tensions rising in both Ukraine and Gaza.
In addition to the protests in Greece, there have been similar movements in Turkey, where activists there are also calling for NATO to stop escalating conflicts in their region. They argue that U.S. military bases in Turkey are a major threat, and they are worried about the possibility of nuclear war.
These growing protests show that more people in Greece and around the world are becoming increasingly frustrated with NATO’s role in global conflicts. The call for peace and for governments to focus on domestic issues like healthcare and education is growing louder.
