Sweden’s efforts to join NATO appear to be facing a steep road, because Turkey is still giving the red light. On the contrary, Türkiye is starting to open the door to Finland’s accession.
For the first time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Ankara would accept Finland joining NATO.
Erdogan conveyed this in a television program on Sunday (29/1), several days after Ankara suspended NATO accession talks with the two countries.
“If necessary, we can give a different response regarding Finland. Sweden will be surprised when we give a different response to Finland,” said Erdogan, as quoted by Al Arabiya .
Furthermore, Erdogan also urged Sweden to follow Turkey’s conditions if it wants to join NATO, namely to extradite dozens of suspects linked to banned Kurdish militants and the failed 2016 coup attempt.
“If you (Sweden) really want to join NATO, you will return these terrorists to us. You will send these terrorists to us so that you can join NATO,” Erdogan added.
Sweden and Finland volunteered to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine. But both require permission from all 30 NATO member countries.
Until now, Turkey and Hungary are the countries that have not given the green light to Sweden and Finland. However, the Hungarian parliament is expected to approve both offers in February.
Source : RMOL.id
