Turkish leader writes about “risks” with Sweden, Finland in NATO
ISTANBUL (AP) – The Turkish president highlighted the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party as part of his country’s objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO, saying that both nations would pose security risks to Turkey.
The group known as the PKK has waged a 38-year uprising against Turkey that has led to tens of thousands of deaths. It has been designated as a terrorist unit by the United States and the European Union, including Sweden and Finland.
But the West’s attitude to the PKK’s Syrian wing, the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, has caused bitterness between Ankara and other NATO members. The YPG is the backbone of the forces involved in the US-led struggle against the Islamic State group.
“Turkey claims that the accession of Sweden and Finland poses risks to its own security and the future of the organization,” wrote President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an article published by The Economist late Monday.
Referring to the central tenet of NATO’s mutual defense policy, he added: “We have every right to expect those countries, which expect NATO’s second largest army to join their defense under Article 5, to prevent recruitment, fundraising and propaganda activities. from the PKK. “
All NATO members must accept the two Nordic nations’ offer to join the alliance, which was driven by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey has said it will not allow their accession unless action is taken, but NATO leaders see the NATO summit in Spain at the end of June as the chance for historic expansion.
Erdogan reiterated his call on Finland and Sweden to extradite people from Ankara on suspicion of terrorist activities and to support “counter-terrorism operations by NATO members.”
He also said the arms embargo was “incompatible with the spirit of military partnership.”
Sweden and Finland were among the countries that introduced defense export restrictions for Turkey after its invasion of northeastern Syria in 2019, which aimed to drive back the YPG. In recent days, Erdogan has promised a further cross-border operation against the group.
The president described Turkey’s role in “probably the largest military alliance in history” since joining in 1952 and called on other NATO members to persuade Sweden and Finland to change their positions.
“Where Sweden and Finland stand on other countries’ national security problems and considerations, with which they would like to be allied, will determine the extent to which Turkey would like to be allied with these states,” he added.