The unexpected reason why Turkey prevented Sweden and Finland from joining NATO?

On May 30, Mr. Ibrahim Kalin – Foreign Policy Advisor to the President Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan – told US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan that Turkey wants to see “concrete steps” by Finland and Sweden on the existence of a so-called “terrorist organization” in the country. these countries.

This must be done before Ankara considers Finland and Sweden’s attempts to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

In a phone call between two senior advisers of Turkey and the United States, the two sides agreed that countries that want to join NATO must “accept the values ​​and principles of the alliance on security and counter-terrorism.” .

The spokesman for the Turkish Presidential Palace, Mr. Ibrahim Kalin. Photo: Reuters

This is not the first time Turkey has raised conditions for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Ibrahim Kalin once said that the country had raised conditions with the delegations of Finland and Sweden on May 25 to get Ankara’s support in the two Nordic countries’ efforts to join NATO.

As for Sweden and Finland, Hensinki and Stockholm affirmed that the two countries condemn terrorism and are ready for dialogue.

In a statement issued on May 30, President Erdogan said that Turkey repeatedly opposes Finland and Sweden’s accession to NATO because of accusations that these two countries “have harbored” elements related to the force. armed forces of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and a number of organizations designated by Ankara as terrorists.

The PKK is an armed political organization that Turkey considers a terrorist organization, as well as some followers of cleric Fethullah Gulen, who President Erdogan has blamed for the failed coup in Turkey in 2016. .

However, according to the news agency ReutersPresident Erdogan said that another reason is that Finland and Sweden have stopped exporting weapons to Turkey in 2019.

US President Joe Biden speaks alongside Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson (right) and Finnish President Sauli Niinisto on May 19. Reuters photo.

The White House said Mr. Sullivan “expressed support for Turkey’s continued direct negotiations with Sweden and Finland to address concerns about Sweden and Finland’s application to join NATO. US national security also reiterated the importance of restraining escalation in Syria to avoid any further instability.

The United States strongly supports Sweden and Finland’s proposals to join NATO. At a press conference on May 19, US President Joe Biden emphasized that Sweden and Finland “meet all of NATO’s requirements” and that “having two new NATO members in Northern Europe will strengthen the security of the alliance.” and deepen security cooperation of the bloc”.

To become a member, all 30 NATO countries must agree. Sweden and Finland are also trying to show their sincerity to Turkey to agree to support the two Nordic countries to join the military alliance.