Turkiye puts forward 10 conditions for Sweden, Finland to join NATO

The Turkish authorities have put forward 10 conditions to Sweden and Finland, the fulfillment of which may prompt Ankara to reconsider its attitude towards NATO membership of the Scandinavian countries, reported from the Yeni Safak newspaper.

A package of demands was presented to the representatives of Sweden and Finland during the negotiations held on May 25 in Ankara. In particular, both countries must declare support for Turkiye in countering terrorist organizations and adopt appropriate legislative acts, close on their territory all organizations associated with the PKK banned by Ankara, their assets and media resources, and prevent their re-opening.

The Turkish authorities, in addition, require Sweden and Finland to extradite persons associated with terrorists, lift the embargo on defense industry products and offer to establish cooperation between intelligence agencies in countering terrorism.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly stated that Ankara will not support the admission of Sweden and Finland to NATO until they determine their attitude towards terrorist organizations. In Turkiye, these include the PKK and FETO, which the authorities accuse of being involved in preparing a coup in 2016.

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