Turkey continues to oppose Sweden’s accession to NATO

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Sweden is not yet able to join NATO as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday he is not satisfied the Swedish government has been too lenient in its dealing with the separatist Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), AP reports. Described by Erdogan as a terror group, the PKK has fought an insurgency in Turkey, and attempted a coup in 2016.

All 31 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization must approve the application of any new member. Finland applied for membership at the same time as Sweden, and became the 31st member of NATO in April after Erdogan approved it.

NATO leaders would like Sweden to join in time for a summit in Lithuania capital on July 11-12, AP reports. However, Erdogan told reporters on Tuesday that Turkey’s attitude to Sweden’s accession was not “positive.” Erdogan is quoted as telling NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg last week: “If you expect us to respond to Sweden’s expectations, first of all, Sweden must destroy what this [PKK] organization has done.”

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has emphasized that his government has done what it agreed to do last year to assuage Turkey’s concerns, AP said. Sweden has strengthened its anti-terror laws and lifted an arms embargo on Turkey.

Stoltenberg said in a statement Wednesday: “Some progress has been made, and we will continue to work for the ratification of Sweden as soon as possible.”

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