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  • Updated: May 19, 2022

Turkey Firm On Finland, Sweden NATO Membership Bid

Turkey Firm On Finland, Sweden NATO Membership Bid

Turkey will continue with its stance toward the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Thursday.

Erdoğan said; "NATO is a security organization, we cannot accept that it includes terrorist organizations.

"These countries host the PKK and the YPG."

Turkey last week said it would not view the applications of Finland and Sweden positively, mainly citing their history of support to terrorist organisations.

Over the last five years, both Sweden and Finland have failed to agree to Turkey's requests for the extradition of dozens of terrorists, including members of the PKK and the Gülenist Terrorist Group (FETÖ).

In response to a Turkish operation against the PKK’s Syrian wing, the YPG in 2019, Sweden and Finland, among others, imposed restrictions on arms exports to Turkey.

Sweden and Finland formally submitted applications for NATO membership to Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday.

Stoltenberg said the alliance would assess the membership bid but stressed that the security interests of all allies have to be taken into account, referring to Turkey's objections.

All 30 members of the alliance must agree before new members can join.

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