Turkey’s Erdogan discusses concerns with NATO hopefuls Sweden and Finland
ISTANBUL (Reuters) -Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, who has objected to Sweden and Finland becoming a member of NATO, held telephone calls with the leaders of the 2 international locations on Saturday and mentioned his considerations about terrorist organisations.
Turkey says Sweden and Finland harbour individuals linked to the Kurdistan Staff Celebration (PKK) militant group and followers of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup try.
Erdogan informed Sweden’s Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson that Ankara anticipated concrete steps to handle its considerations, the Turkish presidency stated. He additionally stated an arms exports embargo imposed on Turkey after its Syria incursion in 2019 ought to be lifted, it added.
Andersson stated she appreciated the decision. “We stay up for strengthening our bilateral relations, together with on peace, safety, and the battle in opposition to terrorism,” she tweeted.
In one other name, Erdogan informed Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that failing to take care of terrorist organisations that posed a menace to a NATO ally wouldn’t swimsuit the spirit of alliance, Ankara stated.
Niinisto stated he held “open and direct” talks with Erdogan and agreed to proceed shut dialogue.
Turkey stunned NATO allies final week by objecting to the 2 international locations’ accession to NATO, however Western leaders have expressed confidence that Ankara’s objections is not going to be a roadblock for the membership course of.
(Reporting by Can Sezer and Ezgi Erkoyun in Istanbul, Essi Lehto in Helsinki and Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Further reporting by Terje Solsvik; Enhancing by Andrew Heavens and Pravin Char)
