Sweden undermines NATO’s bid by allowing anti-Türkiye, terrorist propaganda
Ankara on Thursday voiced its strong disapproval of Sweden over anti-Türkiye and terror propaganda after a mannequin depicting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was hung outside Stockholm City Hall, further eroding confidence in the NATO process.
Türkiye summoned Swedish ambassador Staffan Herrström to convey Ankara’s displeasure. Diplomatic sources said: “The ambassador was informed in strong terms that we strongly condemn and protest this heinous act and demanded that such terrorist acts, which clearly violate Sweden’s commitments under the tripartite agreement, and openly threaten our country, should not be allowed.”
Similarly, the ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in November after images allegedly insulting Erdoğan were projected onto the Turkish embassy building in Stockholm.
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said that PKK supporters have continued their terror propaganda in Stockholm targeting both Erdoğan and Türkiye, adding: “Of course it is unacceptable to allow this and we condemn it.”
Speaking to A Haber News Channel, Çavuşoğlu noted: “This is not just an attack on our president. It is an attack on all of Türkiye.”
“Also, our ambassador in Stockholm (Yönet Can Tezel) took the necessary initiatives in Stockholm. We have emphasized that we condemn this heinous act and that we are only spectators and that those responsible should be found and punished immediately.”
Speaking separately to national broadcaster TRT Haber, Çavuşoğlu said NATO allies must understand Turkey’s security concerns.
“What are their expectations from us? Our acceptance of NATO membership … Such a thing is not possible. (It is) clear. Of course, we will continue our fight against terrorism with determination inside and outside.
“But if this country does not take the steps, does not keep its promises, does not fulfill the obligations under the treaty, then it should not expect anything from us,” he added.
Çavuşoğlu stressed that everyone, including NATO, must react to this, saying: “This is not freedom of speech. To insult, provoke the leader of a country in this way. While doing this, they are also spreading terrorist propaganda.”
Protest scenes in Stockholm have been a particular issue mentioned by Turkish authorities in the past, with Erdoğan saying members of the PKK should not be allowed to parade around Sweden.
The latest incident comes after Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson recently said that Sweden cannot meet all of Turkey’s requirements to join NATO and does not intend to do so.
Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström condemned the act.
“The government is engaged in an open debate about political elections but strongly rejects threats and hatred against political representatives. Portraying an elected president as executed outside city hall is abhorrent,” wrote Billström on Twitter.
In response to the provocations in Stockholm, the Speaker of the Riksdag, Mustafa Şentop canceled his Swedish counterpart Andreas Norlen’s visit to Türkiye which had been scheduled for January 17.
Vice President Fuat Oktay “cursed” the demonstration in Sweden by the members of the “treacherous” terrorist organization and expressed expectations that Sweden would keep its promises under NATO membership initiatives and not tolerate such attempts.
“These events have once again shown Türkiye’s legitimate concern for public opinion in the world. No democratic rule of law can be expected to turn a blind eye to such an illegal demonstration.
“We expect the Swedish authorities to take immediate legal action against terrorist groups and their supporters who committed these unacceptable acts,” Oktay said on Twitter.
Extraditions in progress
Oktay also reiterated that Türkiye demanded the extradition of terrorists and that no one has been extradited from Ankara’s list so far.
Meanwhile, the TT news agency reported on Thursday that the Swedish government will not extradite four people wanted by Türkiye who are linked to the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ).
The request for extradition was made in 2019 and 2020 before Sweden and Finland signed a three-way agreement with Türkiye.
Sweden’s highest court ruled last summer that it could not extradite the four, TT said, leaving the government no choice but to follow its decision.
Türkiye called a separate High Court decision in December to block the extradition of FETÖ fugitive Bulent Keneş a “very negative” development.
Erdoğan had singled out Keneş as a person Ankara wanted extradited from Sweden as a condition for Ankara’s approval for Stockholm to join NATO.
Likewise, presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalın also condemned the latest action, saying: “Once again, we say clearly: Unless the activities of terrorist organizations are stopped, it is not possible for the NATO membership process to move forward.”
At the same time as the entire nation lashed out against Sweden, there was also a reaction from the largest opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
“We strongly condemn the attempted provocation against the Republic of Turkey and the president by the members of the treacherous terrorist organization in Sweden. We call on the Swedish authorities to fulfill their obligations,” the CHP wrote on its official social media account.
Finland and Sweden signed a three-way agreement with Türkiye in 2022 aimed at overcoming Ankara’s objections to their NATO membership.
Stockholm has long been criticized by Ankara for harboring members of various terrorist organizations, particularly members of the PKK and, in recent years, FETÖ – the organization behind the defeated 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.
Türkiye has provided a list of wanted persons to Sweden and expects the Scandinavian nation to take swift action to show that its demands are met.
For Sweden and Finland to become NATO members, all 30 NATO members must ratify their applications. So far, 28 have already done so – only Türkiye and Hungary still have votes left.
Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO in June, a decision spurred by Russia’s war on Ukraine.
However, Türkiye raised objections to the membership bids and criticized the countries for tolerating and empty support terrorist groups.
Ahead of a historic NATO summit, the three countries signed a trilateral agreement in June that prevented a Turkish veto. In the memorandum, the Nordic countries said they would address Turkey’s extradition requests for terrorists. The joint memorandum states that Finland and Sweden “will not provide support to … the organization described as FETÖ” and terrorist groups.
Sweden and Finland agreed earlier this summer to assure Turkey of their support against security risks. Turkey is awaiting the extradition of dozens of terrorist suspects from the two Nordic countries.