Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Sweden and NATO continue to push Turkey to approve planned expansion of the alliance.
Ulf Kristersson, Swedish Prime Minister is to attend a meeting with Turkish President Recep Erdoğan in Ankara later on Tuesday to persuade him to approve Sweden’s accession to NATO, according to France24 reporting on Tuesday.
Sweden and Finland dropped their non-alignment policies in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and applied for NATO membership in May this year.
Turkey announced it would not approve their applications, stressing that the two EU member states are providing safe haven to terrorists. Ankara pointed out that Sweden is very lenient towards the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and the associated organisation People’s Protection Units (YPG).
The EU and most Western countries have designated the PKK as a terrorist organisation.
The previous Swedish government supported the YPG and its political party PYD, but the new administration is distancing itself from the group.
Tobias Billström, Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs pointed out last week “there is too close a link between these organisations and the PKK, which is a terrorist organisation listed by the EU.”
NATO pushes Ankara
Also last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Ankara to push for NATO expansion. “It’s time to welcome Finland and Sweden as full members of NATO… their accession will make our alliance stronger and our people safer,” he stated.
Stoltenberg reminded that Finland and Sweden agreed to make concessions in June and address Turkey’s request to extradite or deport terrorists.
“Finland and Sweden have delivered on their agreement to Turkey,” he stated and added that taking in the two EU member states would “send a clear message to Russia.”
Erdoğan welcomed Finland and Sweden’s progress since the new administration took office, but stressed on Friday that Ankara would not approve their NATO applications until the two EU member states take necessary steps.
Turkey is balancing its relations with Russia and Ukraine – the country did not join Western countries in imposing sanctions against Russia, but provided Ukraine with combat drones.
According to a European diplomat, there is a “reasonable chance” that Turkey will approve Finland and Sweden’s NATO bids before the Turkish presidential election in June next year.
