President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey indicated on Monday that his nation isn't prepared to approve Sweden's NATO membership application, emphasizing that Stockholm needs to demonstrate further progress on fulfilling its commitments. Following a cabinet meeting, Erdogan reiterated his disapproval of the recent Quran-burning incident in Sweden, categorizing it as a hate crime targeting Muslims.
Erdogan underscored Turkey's firm stance against terrorism and Islamophobia, stating, "We have clearly drawn our red line: combating terrorist organizations and Islamophobia. Building a friendship with Turkey cannot be achieved by supporting terrorism or providing safe havens for terrorists." Turkey has held back its final consent for Sweden's inclusion in the alliance, citing concerns about Sweden's handling of anti-Islamic protests and groups Turkey perceives as security risks, particularly Kurdish militant groups involved in a protracted conflict within Turkey.
The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), designated a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union, has been engaged in a 38-year insurgency against Turkey, resulting in a significant loss of life. NATO aims to integrate Sweden before the upcoming summit in Lithuania scheduled for July 11-12. However, Erdogan emphasized that Sweden still has outstanding obligations. NATO membership expansion necessitates unanimous approval from all current members, with Turkey and Hungary being the sole holdouts on Sweden's application.
Erdogan urged Sweden to focus on fulfilling its promises rather than employing diversionary tactics. He referenced the memorandum signed last year by Sweden and Finland with Turkey, outlining commitments to address Ankara's concerns, though combating Islamophobia wasn't explicitly part of the agreement. Last week, Swedish police, upholding a court decision that overturned a prior ban, permitted a demonstration outside a Stockholm mosque, citing freedom of speech. Erdogan strongly condemned the Quran-burning incident, labeling it an affront to Muslim sentiments and incompatible with fundamental human values.
French President Emmanuel Macron (right) and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg address reporters before their meeting at the Élysée Palace in Paris on June 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Sweden and Finland, abandoning their long-standing neutrality, sought NATO membership for security assurances in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Finland secured membership earlier this year after ratification by Turkey's parliament. While Sweden has amended its anti-terror laws since applying to NATO, Turkey contends that supporters of militant groups continue to operate freely within the country, organizing demonstrations, recruiting members, and raising funds. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has convened a meeting with representatives from Turkey, Sweden, and Finland on July 6 to address Turkey's reservations regarding Sweden's membership bid.
