Turkey raises security concerns with Sweden, Finland

Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin – Photo: REUTERS

“We have sent a clear message that progress will not progress unless Turkey’s security concerns are addressed through concrete steps and within a certain timeframe,” said Ibrahim Kalin. , spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said.

Kalin made the remarks after a five-hour meeting with representatives of Sweden and Finland in the capital Ankara, Turkey on May 25, according to AFP news agency.

“They told us that they understand Turkey’s security concerns, but we will be looking at the next steps they take,” Kalin said.

Turkey, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has objected to Sweden and Finland’s application to join the military alliance related to supporting Kurdish militant groups. .

Therefore, Stockholm and Helsinki sent delegations to Ankara to convince Turkey.

Turkey accuses Sweden of providing a safe haven for people with ties to the militant group of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Ankara and its Western allies consider terrorists. .

In addition, Turkey also demanded that Sweden and Finland lift arms export restrictions against this country and extradite people associated with the PKK and the Gulen movement (FETO) to Ankara.

FETO is a movement linked to cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused by Ankara of being behind the failed 2016 coup.

Sweden has imposed embargoes on arms sales to Turkey since 2019, because of Ankara’s military offensive in Syria.

“We don’t think it’s appropriate for our allies to impose sanctions on each other, that would weaken the alliance and make the enemy happy,” Kalin added.

Last week, Stockholm and Helsinki applied to join NATO, ending the policy of neutrality that the two countries have maintained for decades. Sweden and Finland need the approval of all 30 existing NATO members to join the alliance.