NATO stop?

Erdogan's chief adviser gives Sweden a cold shoulder - "Give it a few months"

Created: 05/24/2022, 13:43

By: Florian Naumann

Erdogan speaks out against NATO expansion in the north in the Ukraine war.

© Sergei Karpukhin/Imago

Sweden and Finland want to join NATO - and Turkey says "no".

That could remain the case for the time being: Erdogan's chief adviser gives an insight into the negotiations.

Stockholm/Ankara – Sweden and Finland have experienced their own turning point in the wake of the Ukraine war: the two Scandinavian countries want to join NATO after a good seven decades of absence.

Despite all the threats from the Kremlin – or perhaps because of it.

However, Turkey has so far vetoed NATO's northern expansion.

And that doesn't seem to change for the time being.

A conversation between Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the weekend did not produce a solution, reports the broadcaster SVT.

According to the public broadcaster, Ankara's three main demands for an end to the Turkish NATO blockade are on the table - and they contain explosive material.

In an interview with the channel, Erdogan's chief adviser Ilnur Cevic referred to a possible agreement in the more distant future.

Sweden wants to join NATO: Erdogan advisor gives insight - "Give it a few months"

In fact, Turkey currently has the decision on Sweden and Finland joining NATO in its own hands: the approval of all member states is required for an expansion of the military alliance.

Ankara currently wants to refuse this.

Erdogan's AKP government justifies its position by saying that Sweden and Finland are "nests of terror".

Andersson and Erdogan have now "agreed that they disagree," said Cevic.

Finding a solution depends on Sweden: "So far it has been difficult because time is limited.

But if you give it a few months, I think a solution will be possible," said Erdogan's adviser.

The statement could well be seen as increasing the pressure on the Northern countries that would like to join.

However, Cevic also stated that Swedish laws prevented a faster response - thus offering an alternative interpretation for his statements.

Andersson himself also spoke up.

When asked by the Swedish news agency TT, the Prime Minister chose polite words, but essentially confirmed Cevic's account.

"It's good that we can continue this dialogue, but it will certainly take a little time," said the social democrat.

According to her own account, she had “a good conversation” with Erdogan.

In the arms of NATO: Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson hugs Joe Biden.

© IMAGO/Oliver Contreras

Turkey in NATO against Sweden and Finland: Kurdistan dispute in focus - that's what it's all about

The official background to the dispute between Turkey on the one hand and Sweden and Finland on the other is primarily how Kurdish groups are dealt with.

Erdogan's government is in constant conflict with the Kurds at home and abroad and resorts to repression and military means.

According to the German Attorney General, the banned Turkish workers' party PKK is "responsible for numerous assassinations and attacks in Turkey".

For Sweden, but also for the USA, the Kurdish YPG in Syria is an ally in the fight against IS.

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Cevic now emphasized: “Sweden must stop granting sanctuary to PKK terrorists and their supporters.

We see the YPG as a terrorist organization, an extension of the PKK.” The PKK is classified as a terrorist organization in both Turkey and Sweden.

However, this does not apply to the YPG in the Scandinavian country.

At the same time, Swedish law is apparently more liberal than Turkey would like: “For example, it is not specifically prohibited to be a member of a terrorist organization.

You have to prove that acts of terrorism were planned or carried out," Stockholm political scientist Paul Levin told

.

Nor can the police prevent the presentation of PKK flags.

At the same time, Sweden was "historically a shelter for Kurdish dissidents," as the expert emphasized.

"But that doesn't mean that all of these Kurds work for or support the PKK."

Finland, on the other hand, is actually "just a hostage in this drama," Levin explained.

NATO accession: Turkey's three main demands on Sweden

The SVT report lists three points as Turkey's main demands on Sweden.

Erdogan's office had also confirmed this in a similar way at the weekend:

• Branding the Syrian group YPG as terrorist.

• Extradition of 16 people with alleged links to the PKK, the Kurdish party HDP or the Gülen movement.

• Lifting of an arms embargo against Turkey - issued after a Turkish offensive against the YPG in Syria.

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