"Unlikely" is the possibility that of spectacular progress to make it possible for Turkey to change its mind[/B] about Finland and Sweden joining NATO at the summit starting Tuesday in Madrid. As Reuters points out, Ankara[/B] appears to be in no particular hurry with regard to the negotiations, according to both Turkish and Western officials.
Finland and Sweden's request for NATO membership was submitted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which has been described as a historic expansion of the Western Defence Alliance. However, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan "surprised allies" with his opposition, Reuters notes, highlighting the argument about the Scandinavian countries' support for terrorist groups, he said.
Any membership request requires unanimity from the 30 member states of NATO, whose leaders will meet on June 29 and 30.
While some have called the summit a landmark decision, Reuters stresses that Turkish negotiators are not interested in deadlines imposed by their foreign allies and are ready to push for months if necessary to get the Nordic states to lift arms embargoes and crack down on what Turkey calls "terrorist groups," the publication said, citing four different sources.
Ankara insists on extraditing certain Kurdish fighters living in Sweden, a source with knowledge of the matter said.
Officials and diplomats have not ruled out a last-minute deal, but according to statements by Erdogan's spokesman last week, Ibrahim Kalin, Ankara - NATO's second-largest military and a member for 70 years - is waiting for binding steps and does not see the summit as a deadline.
"There have been meetings, but unfortunately the steps we expected are not being taken," said a Turkish government official involved in the talks. "It seems difficult to get an outcome out of the NATO meeting."
In an interview with Haberturk TV station on Sunday, Kalin said he and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal would hold new talks with Finnish and Swedish officials in Brussels on Monday, followed by another round of talks between the leaders of NATO, Turkey, Finland and Sweden on Tuesday ahead of the Madrid summit.
"Participating in this summit does not mean we will take a step back from our position," Kalin said, referring to Tuesday's quadrilateral meeting."
A source with knowledge of the developments who spoke to Reuters said a document outlining Sweden's and Finland's commitments contains issues that have yet to be fully agreed.
Reuters also makes reference to the presidential and parliamentary elections facing Erdogan next year, who says the Scandinavians are sheltering people linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States, as well as followers of Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.
The tough stance is thought to have helped his polls rebound even as Turkey's inflation soars and its currency plummets largely due to the president's unorthodox economic policies.
A Western diplomat noted among other things that Erdogan is likely to backtrack on the issue of NATO membership bids, but "this issue could go on for several more months as he looks forward to elections and NATO allies become increasingly frustrated."
Source: in.gr
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