Erdogan says Turkey to not approve Sweden’s bid to join NATO
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that his country is not ready to approve Sweden’s bid to join NATO, as long as the latter continues to harbor members of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Erdogan, said in an interview with the CNN, tackled a key flashpoint in Turkish tensions with the West which is Sweden’s accession to NATO.
Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO in May 2022 prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February but were met with huge rejection from Turkey and Hungary.
Turkey had rejected the two Nordic countries’ bid for NATO membership under the pretext that they support the PKK, the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG).
However, in March, Turkey hindered Sweden from joining NATO but ratified Finland’s bid.
“As long as Sweden continues to allow the offshoots of terror groups in Turkey to roam free in Sweden … we cannot look favorably on Sweden’s membership in NATO,” the Turkish President said.
He argued that his country is “not ready for Sweden right now” because it should show up a firm stance towards “terrorism” first.