Accession of Sweden and Finland to NATO: Erdogan sticks to his positions

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 16, 2022. © BURHAN OZBILICI / AP

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A few days before the NATO summit which will open on June 28 in Madrid, Turkey continues to oppose the accession of Sweden and Finland, unless these two countries accede to its demands. .

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With our correspondent in Istanbul,

Anne Andlauer

This Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by telephone with the Secretary General of the Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, and with the Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson.

No progress, he said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is increasing the pressure on Sweden and Finland, and on its NATO allies.

Turkish officials repeat that they are in no rush and do not feel pressured to find a compromise during the Madrid summit.

They consider – in any case, they declare – that the negotiations have not advanced, and say they are still waiting for “

concrete gestures

”.

This is what the Turkish President said after his conversation with the Swedish Prime Minister.

Tayyip Erdogan accuses the two Nordic states

of imposing an embargo on arms sales to his country, of supporting the PKK (the Kurdistan Workers' Party) and its Syrian offshoot, the YPG, both considered by Ankara to be groups terrorists, and to refuse to extradite individuals wanted for alleged links with these Kurdish armed groups or with the failed coup of July 2016.

Turkey asks that its “

concerns

” be taken into account.

In other words, it demands counterparties to approve the accession of Stockholm and Helsinki to NATO, while trying to involve the United States of Joe Biden in the negotiations.

Tayyip Erdoğan is also seeking a one-on-one with the American president on the sidelines of the summit.

►Also read: Turkey: Erdogan opposed to NATO membership of Sweden and Finland

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  • NATO

  • Sweden

  • Finland

  • Turkey

  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan