Türkiye will act Confirm Sweden’s NATO Membership On Friday, President Tayyip Erdogan was quoted as saying that the bid would be made in cooperation with Stockholm in the fight against terrorism.
Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership last year in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, abandoning their Cold War policies of military non-alignment. Their applications must be approved by all members of the alliance.
withheld ratification of Sweden’s NATO bid More than a year ago, after a coalition summit in Lithuania this month, Erdogan unexpectedly agreed to send it to Turkey’s parliament when the legislature meets in October.
“The Turkish parliament’s working program will determine the process of Sweden’s NATO membership (approval),” Erdogan told reporters on a flight returning from the Gulf countries and Northern Cyprus, according to a readout from his office.
Turkey invites Sweden to take further action against Kurdistan Workers’ Party
“It would be in Sweden’s favor if they take concrete steps on the fight against terrorist organizations and on extradition of terrorists.”
Ankara has accused Stockholm of doing too little against those Turkey views as terrorists, mainly members of the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and groups Ankara accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016. In which extradition is a major issue.
Sweden’s top court recently blocked the extradition of two Turkish nationals who Ankara says are part of a terrorist group.
“We hope that the promises will be fulfilled,” Erdogan said.
Erdogan was referring to an agreement between Turkey, Sweden and Finland in Madrid last year aimed at addressing Ankara’s security concerns.
Turkey partially condemned on Thursday Destruction of a Quran in front of Iraq’s embassy in Stockholm, but has not commented publicly on the incident on the plane.