Erdogan discusses concerns with NATO hopefuls Sweden and Finland

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan addresses members of his ruling AK Party (AKP) during a meeting at the parliament in Ankara, Turkey May 18, 2022. (Murat Cetinmuhurdar/Presidential Press Office/Handout via REUTERS)

ISTANBUL — Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has objected to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, held phone calls with the leaders of the two countries on Saturday and discussed his concerns about terrorist organizations.

Turkey says Sweden and Finland harbor people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and followers of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.

Erdogan told Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson that Ankara expected concrete steps to address its concerns, according to the Turkish presidency. He also said an arms exports embargo imposed on Turkey after its Syria incursion in 2019 should be lifted, it added.

Andersson said she appreciated the call and that Sweden hoped to strengthen bilateral relations with Turkey.

“I emphasized that Sweden welcomes the possibility of cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and emphasized that Sweden clearly supports the fight against terrorism and the terrorist listing of the PKK,” she added in a statement.

In another call, Erdogan told Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that failing to deal with terrorist organizations that posed a threat to a NATO ally would not suit the spirit of alliance, Ankara said.

Niinisto said he held “open and direct” talks with Erdogan and agreed to continue close dialogue.

Turkey surprised its NATO allies last week by objecting to the two countries’ accession to the military alliance, but Western leaders have expressed confidence that Ankara’s objections will not be a roadblock to the membership process.

All 30 NATO states must give their approval before a new member can be admitted and thus benefit from the collective-security guarantee.

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