In the United States, criticism is growing against Turkey's resistance to approving Sweden's and Finland's NATO applications, and several American politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, are beginning to run out of patience with the country.

One of those politicians is John Bolton, former President Donald Trump's former national adviser and former US ambassador to the United Nations.

He even believes that Turkey should be excluded from the defense alliance.

John Bolton points, among other things, to Turkey's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system in 2017 as a reason for exclusion.

- The purchase of the S-400 air defense system is practically an exit from NATO.

It can be coordinated with all Russian air defense systems, but not at all with NATO's system, he says in SVT's Agenda.

"A kind of blackmail"

Ankara's "attempt to sabotage" the Nordic countries' NATO processes and its reluctance to expand the defense alliance also form a basis, he believes.

- It is busy.

I just hope people in both countries don't lose their patience.

This is a kind of blackmail.

Erdogan (President of Turkey ed. note) behaves the same way towards his own people so it is hardly surprising that he behaves this way towards others.

But is it even possible to exclude a member state from NATO?

- The clause rebus sic stantibus in international law allows almost anything.

They can choose whether they want to join NATO.

Or we can dissolve NATO and reconstitute it.

There are many ways to solve it, says Bolton.

Bolton: Wait until after the election

The US has for some time been said to be preparing a sale of the US fighter jet F-16 to Turkey.

The deal is described by some as a carrot for Ankara to approve Sweden's and Finland's applications, but Bolton is unsure whether Erdogan will be appeased.

- Personally, I would not do anything until after the election in May.

We should not let Erdogan take advantage of us politically, he says.

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List: Three events that have sparked anger in Turkey.

Photo: SVT/Rojava Committees