Erdogan warns Sweden and Finland to “fulfill” obligations under the NATO agreement
There was no immediate response from Sweden to his comments. The Swedish Prime Minister had previously said that the country would follow international and local laws when evaluating extradition requests and not extradite Swedish citizens.
The agreement between the three countries, which was concluded on Tuesday, ended a long conflict between Turkey and NATO and was hailed as a victory for transatlantic unity during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Turkey’s opposition had focused on complaints that Sweden and Finland were not suitable for membership in the alliance because of what Erdogan said was their support for militant groups, including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or the PKK. As part of the agreement, Turkey agreed to support Sweden’s and Finland’s membership offers, in exchange for various measures from the two governments that acknowledge or address a wide range of Turkish complaints.
The agreement called on Finland and Sweden to “promptly and thoroughly” and in accordance with an EU convention “address” Turkey’s deportation or extradition requests. It did not mention specific extradition requests.
It also said that the Finnish and Swedish governments should close financial and recruitment networks associated with the PKK.
Erdogan’s comments on Thursday suggested that tensions could continue after the summit, as the Turkish government continues to seek ways to extract concessions from Western allies, including the United States. For Sweden’s and Finland’s accession to NATO, all current member states must approve the move, and many require legislative approval.
“Sweden and Finland, they must fulfill their duties, as it says in the text,” Erdogan said. “And after they have fulfilled their duties, what are we going to do? We will send this to our parliament. But if this is not fulfilled, it is not possible to send this to our parliament.
“We expect genuine solidarity from our allies, not just in words but in deeds,” he added, referring to Finland and Sweden.
But even as Erdogan’s supporters cheered on his bullish diplomacy, some analysts said that in reality the Turkish leader won few concrete concessions from the West.
In a conversation with reporters this week, a high-ranking US administration official said that Turkey did not ask the United States for any specific additions as part of the agreement. President Biden also denied on Thursday that his administration’s support for the potential sale of US F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, which needs congressional approval, was in return for Ankara supporting NATO membership for Finland and Sweden.
Still, in the face of a growing economic crisis and low domestic approval, Erdogan may simply have tried to consolidate his domestic policy base.
Pro-government media in Turkey saw the deal as a historic victory for Ankara and praised Erdogan for his “determination” and “vision” of bringing Turkish affairs to the world stage.
“Turkey hit the table with [its] fist! Europe has gone on its knees, read a headline this week in the pro-government newspaper Yeni Akit. The Sabah News Daily on Thursday also called the trilateral agreement a “diplomatic victory” and said Turkey had sent a “clear message to the world” that it would not tolerate terrorism.
Erdogan “saw an opportunity here with the Ukraine crisis in trying to get some concessions from NATO members to support his international image,” said Merve Tahiroglu, Turkey’s program coordinator at the Project on Middle East Democracy.
“He wanted to prove with this move … that he is at the table and that he is the kind of leader who cannot be ignored – and his demands must be acknowledged and he must be committed,” she said.
James Ryan, Deputy Director of the Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at New York University, said on Twitter that Erdogan and his party are “looking for literally any issue that could distract people from the economy right now.”
Although the deal is a “geopolitical nothing burger”, “every win plays at home and costs little,” he said. “This is the strategic thinking behind this whole dog and pony show. It has worked before. That does not mean it will work now.”
Cunningham reported from Washington. Ashley Parker in Madrid and Sammy Westfall in Washington contributed to this report.