Sweden and Finland joining NATO: showdown in Ankara?

Delegation wants to break Erdogan's blockade

Created: 05/25/2022, 09:32

By: Christoph Gschossmann

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, arrives for a ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

© Burhan Ozbilici/dpa

Sweden and Finland want to join NATO.

Because Turkey is opposed to it, the countries are sending representatives to Ankara.

News ticker.

• Because of the Ukraine conflict, Finland and Sweden have decided to join NATO.

  NATO member Turkey has so far blocked.

• The two Scandinavian countries are sending delegations to Turkey: the diplomats will travel to Ankara on Wednesday.

Sweden and Finland are sending delegations to Turkey on Wednesday

First report, May 24, 3:43 p.m .:

Sweden and Finland want to join NATO, but Turkey is in the way: the two Scandinavian countries are sending delegations to Ankara on Wednesday to dissuade the Turkish government from its resistance to both countries joining NATO .

"If we see problems coming, we will of course take the diplomatic route," said Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto on Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“We are sending delegations from both Sweden and Finland to Ankara.

It will happen tomorrow,” added Haavisto.

All NATO countries must agree to membership applications

NATO member Turkey has threatened to say no to the Scandinavians' desire to become part of the defense alliance.

Finland and Sweden jointly submitted their membership applications to NATO on Wednesday last week, under the impression of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

All 30 member countries must agree to a country joining NATO.

According to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the reason for the rejection is the way the accession candidates treat the PKK and the YPG.

Erdogan is demanding tougher action from Finland and Sweden against the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Kurdish-Syrian YPG, which the government in Ankara classifies as terrorist organizations.

Turkey is also demanding the extradition of Kurds who have found protection in Finland and Sweden.

Turkey also accuses the two countries of stopping arms deliveries to Ankara.