SAWT BEIRUT INTERNATIONAL

| 29 March 2024, Friday |

Erdogan says Turkey will freeze Finland, Sweden’s NATO bids if promises not kept

Turkey would halt Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership aspirations if they do not meet counter-terrorism commitments made last month, President Tayyip Erdogan warned on Monday, adding that Sweden was “not portraying a nice image” at the time.

In reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden asked for membership in the defense alliance, but were greeted with opposition from Turkey, who accused the Nordic nations of sponsoring terrorist groups.

At the NATO summit in Madrid last month, the three nations agreed to withdraw Ankara’s veto in return for counter-terrorism and arms export assurances. Turkey has stated that it will closely monitor the agreement’s implementation in order to endorse their membership bids.

    Source:
  • Reuters