Sweden and Finland’s NATO applications could be in limbo for a year if they continue to harbor Kurdish groups Ankara deems as “terrorists,” the chair of Turkey’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee says.
Akif Cagatay Kilic reiterated on Tuesday that objections previously raised by Turkey to admitting Sweden and Finland into NATO are a “matter of vital national interest,” and that Ankara is “prepared to prevent their membership for as long as a year if necessary.” The MP also argued that Turkey deserves “greater respect” as it is the “second largest army in NATO and has been providing the drones that help Ukraine defend itself.”
Explaining Turkey’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining the military alliance, Kilic accused both nations of “harboring terrorist organizations.”
He denied that the situation was an electoral ploy to solidify President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s party’s position ahead of a difficult vote. Kilic argued that non-Kurdish opposition parties also backed the demands Ankara had put forward to NATO.
Stockholm and Helsinki, both neutral nations until recently, expressed their desire to join the military alliance soon after Russia attacked Ukraine in late February.