Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has opposed allowing Sweden and Finland to join NATO, putting the two Nordic nations’ hopes of joining the Western military alliance in jeopardy.
In a move that could undermine Turkey’s efforts to strengthen ties with the US and Europe following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Erdoğan – whose country has been a NATO member since 1952 – today Friday said he could not take a “positive view” on the potential of the two countries Bid to become a member.
The obstacle was their support for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which proceeded decades-long armed uprising against the Turkish state, he said. It is classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara, the US and the EU. The Turkish president also named a radical leftist group.
“The Scandinavian countries are like a kind of guesthouse for terrorist organizations,” Erdoğan told reporters, referring to the Nordic countries. “They’re even in parliament.”
He added: “At this point, we can’t look at it positively.”
Some Swedish officials and parliamentarians have worried that Turkey could pose the most dangerous objection to a potential NATO effort, which seems to have the support of most of the other 29 members of the alliance. coalition but required unanimous support.
A senior Swedish official said: “There are a lot of Kurds in Sweden, there are a lot of parliamentarians of Kurdish origin.
Finnish and Swedish diplomats have crossed Europe and the Atlantic to sympathize with NATO members, whom they need to ratify in order to become members.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Saturday that Sweden and Finland are strong countries in defense capabilities “and only for that reason will their contribution make Nato stronger”.
“Sweden and Finland are also stable democracies that have lived peacefully with all their neighbors for decades,” she said. “And for that reason, every democracy should be glad that democracies with strong defense capabilities make our defense alliance stronger in this way.”
Russia has threatened “serious political and military consequences” if either country joins NATO, and on Friday said it would suspend electricity exports to Finland because the amount has not been paid.
Ann Linde, Sweden’s foreign minister, told Swedish radio on Friday that Turkey may be trying to use the membership push to get what it wants. She added: “We know that ratification processes always involve uncertainties, especially that ratification can be used for domestic political purposes.
Pekka Haavisto, Finland’s foreign minister, urges patience, saying: “You can expect everything during the application process. . . Let’s solve the problems step by step. “
Several Finnish officials said Turkey’s problems appeared to be mainly with Sweden and that their discussions with Ankara were positive.
Finnish officials are particularly focused on Hungary, which they fear might seek concessions to accept their membership.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö spoke to Erdoğan on April 4, describing the phone call as “positive”. on Twitter and added: “Turkey supports Finnish goals.”
Niinistö on Friday night said he and Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson had spoken with US president Joe Biden, including about Finland’s next steps towards Nato membership. “Finland appreciates all the necessary support from the US,” added the president.
NATO officials have said they expect Finland and Sweden to become official invitees within “a few weeks” but it could take six to 12 months for all 30 current members. approve their application.
The Finnish government will meet on Sunday with President Niinistö to finalize the country’s application. On the same day, members of Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Party will announce their views before the government announces it next week. Countries may choose to submit their applications to Nato next week during Niinistö’s state visit to Stockholm.
Turkey has suffered from strained relations with its Nato allies in recent years. America impose sanctions in 2020 in retaliation for Erdoğan’s decision to purchase and deliver the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.
Western nations have been boosted by Turkey’s support for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion, with Ankara supplying armed drones to Kyiv and taking steps to limit it transit of Russian warships and military aircraft through their airspace – although they have refused to register with the West sanctions against Moscow.
Additional reporting by Guy Chazan in Berlin.
