Greek communists say Mark Rutte is “unwelcome” in the country and are demanding an end to the bloc’s support for Ukraine and Israel
Several thousand people have taken to the streets of Athens to protest against the arrival of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Greece. Members of the country’s communist party (KKE) and its youth branch (KNE) have denounced the US-led military bloc’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict as well as hostilities in Gaza.
On Tuesday, following a visit to Türkiye, Rutte met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Defense Minister Nikos Dendias.
The talks took place against a backdrop of a rally insisting that “the head of the NATO wolf alliance is unwelcome in Athens.” Protesters chanted “Greece out of war,”“Shut down US and NATO bases,” and demanded an end to military aid to Ukraine and Israel, as reported by RIA Novosti. They also claimed that, by aligning itself with the US and NATO agenda, the Greek government had become complicit in “Gaza genocide,” according to the local Press Project media outlet.
In a statement released ahead of the rally, the Greek communists expressed concern that Rutte was aiming to deepen Athens’ involvement in NATO activities at a time when “plans to escalate the war in Ukraine are emerging,” and Israel is perpetrating a “genocide” of Palestinians in Gaza.
The KKE/KNE called for Greece’s exit from NATO, the removal of the bloc’s bases from the country, as well as the redirection of funds earmarked for the military toward better education and healthcare for Greeks.
Ahead of the NATO secretary general’s visit to Türkiye, local communists similarly denounced their country’s participation in the US-led military bloc. They pointed to the fact that “nuclear war is being talked about,” with several military conflicts continuing in the vicinity of Türkiye.
The Turkish activists claimed that US bases in their country pose the greatest threat to Ankara.
Earlier this month, members of the Greek KKE/KNE blocked several trucks, which were carrying weapons and ammunition intended for the Ukrainian Army. The convoy eventually had to take a different route, but not before the demonstrators smeared the vehicles with graffiti reading “NATO Killers Go Home!”
Like many other NATO member states, Greece has been supplying Ukraine with weapons and ammunition since the escalation of the conflict between Kiev and Moscow in February 2022. These deliveries have included dozens of Soviet-made armored personnel carriers.
Earlier this year, Athens joined the so-called F-16 coalition and pledged to help train Ukrainian fighter pilots.
