Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey indicates the Ankara that Turkey may accept Finland into NATO before taking an action on Sweden membership. He indicates Ankara when Ankara suspended NATO accession talks with both countries after a politician burned the Holy Quran in a protest in Stockholm.
While Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO last year when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Sweden would be shocked by our message which we will deliver to Finland. It will be a different message. But Finland should never do the same mistake in the future as Sweden did.”
Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday in a speech.
Every 30-nation alliance member needs to approve their membership. While Turkey and Hungary are the only countries that are holding up yet to approving their membership. On the other hand, Hungarian is expected to approve the bids in February.
Erdogan’s main point of complaint has been Sweden’s denial of the handover people that Ankara has a connection with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and has linked to failed 2016 coup attempt.
Erdogan persists in neglecting Sweden’s NATO membership. He tries to energize his national supporters as he is facing an election in May.
Tayyip Erdogan continued his demand for Sweden to hand over 120 alleged suspects then Turkey may accept Sweden.
“If Sweden wants to join NATO, they have to return these terrorists to us.”
Tayyip Erdogan
While Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden is hoping to restart his NATO talks with Turkey.
Turkey issued a travel warning to European countries over anti-Turkish demonstrations and what it called Islamophobia. The warning indicates the increase in anti-Turkish protests by terror groups.
In response to the promises to prevent PKK activities in Sweden and Finland, Pro-Kurdish groups have waved the flags of the PKK and its affiliates during protests. The promise was made to secure Turkey’s approval for them to join NATO.
While Erdogan said Turkey had sent a list of 120 alleged suspects people it wants to be handover from Sweden.
