Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) Executive Committee member Duran Kalkan has warned of escalating conflict within Turkey and across the Middle East. Speaking to Medya Haber TV, Kalkan linked Israel’s recent attacks in Lebanon to a broader global struggle for control of energy routes, accusing powerful actors, including NATO, the United States, and Europe, of driving the violence.
“Israel’s attacks are barbaric,” Kalkan said, adding, “Behind these operations are powerful actors seeking dominance over energy routes. Justice and Development Party (AKP)-Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) voices in Turkey are enthusiastic about the escalation of war in Lebanon.”
Kalkan also cautioned that Turkey faces internal instability if it continues on its current political path under the ruling AKP-MHP coalition. He highlighted Abdullah Öcalan’s long-standing predictions of domestic and regional unrest, including potential threats to Cyprus and Turkey’s borders.
“Leader Apo (Öcalan) warned: ‘If you don’t listen, you will face great disasters,’” Kalkan said. “Now, AKP-MHP fascism has dragged Turkey into such a disaster. The war inside Turkey will intensify.”
Kalkan condemned Turkey’s alleged use of banned military tactics, such as chemical weapons, in its conflict against Kurdish forces and accused the government of enabling what he described as war crimes.
Looking to the future, Kalkan said Turkey is at a crossroads, arguing that the country must either submit to external powers or face potential fragmentation. He called for democratic reforms based on Öcalan’s vision of ‘democratic confederalism’ to prevent further chaos.
“The only solution for Turkey’s survival is democratic reform based on Kurdish freedom,” Kalkan concluded.