The Turkish president also said an arms exports embargo imposed on Turkey after its Syria incursion in 2019 should be lifted
Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan today spoke to Sweden’s prime minsiter Magdalena Andersson to outline his expectations from Stockholm regarding its bid for Nato membership in relation to his concerns about terrorist organisations.
His demands included introducing concrete steps to address Turkey’s apprenhensions about people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) living in Sweden.
In a phone call, Mr Erdogan also said an arms exports embargo imposed on Turkey after its Syria incursion in 2019 should be lifted, the state-owned Anadolu news agency reported.
Finland and Sweden formally applied to join Nato on Wednesday, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey surprised Nato allies last week by objecting to the two countries’ membership, but Western leaders have expressed confidence that Ankara’s objections will not be a roadblock to the Nato accession process.
Finnish president Sauli Niinisto said he also held “open and direct” talks with his Turkish counterpart today to discuss its own Nato bid.
After the call, Mr Niinisto tweeted: “I stated that as Nato allies Finland and Turkey will commit to each other’s security and our relationship will thus grow stronger. Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Close dialogue continues.”
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