Last week's talks between Sweden and Finland on their membership in NATO held at Ankara's presidential complex "did not develop at the level expected," Turkish news agency Anadolu reported, citing statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made late last night.
Speaking to reporters from inside the plane as he was returning to Turkey from a visit to Azerbaijan, President Erdogan said in statements released today: "Unfortunately, the talks held between our delegation and Finland and Sweden did not develop at the level expected."
Saying that Sweden and Finland had expectations from these talks, Erdogan said, however, that the two countries have not taken the necessary steps regarding Turkey's demands, noting that terrorists even now walk the streets of Stockholm, while Sweden protects them "with its own police."
"We cannot repeat the mistakes made in the past (allowing countries to join NATO, which is a security organization) while they support and strengthen such terrorists," the Turkish president said."
Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO on May 18, a decision they were pushed into by Russia's war in Ukraine that began on Feb. 24. Turkey, a longtime member of the alliance, has voiced its objections to their membership requests, criticizing the two countries for tolerating or even supporting terrorist groups.
Turkey last week hosted consultations in Ankara with delegations from Sweden and Finland on their NATO membership applications.
Adding that he would soon have separate phone calls with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts, Erdogan said Turkey would continue to encourage the sides to maintain channels of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve peace in Ukraine.
On the possibility of a new security operation in northern Syria near the Turkish border, the Turkish president noted that everyone should do their part in the fight against terrorism.
"If America does not do its duty in the fight against terrorism, what will we do? We will defend ourselves. Taking action against terrorism cannot be done by asking the permission of others," he added.
Turkey has borders with Syria and Iraq to the south and has taken action to eliminate terrorist bases and prevent new ones that could threaten its national security and the safety of locals along its border.
Turkey has long expressed its opposition to US cooperation with the PG/PKK (the Syrian branch of the PKK) in northern Syria, which has taken thousands of lives in Turkey.
Since 2016, Ankara has carried out three successful counter-terrorism operations along its border in northern Syria to prevent the organization of a terrorist corridor and to enable the peaceful rehabilitation of the residents of these areas. These are Operations, Euphrates Shield (2016), Branch of Elah (2018) and Source of Peace (2019).
In its terrorist campaign against Turkey for more than 35 years, the PKK (listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the US and the EU) has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is the PKK's arm in Syria.
Regarding Turkey's relations with Israel, Erdogan said the two countries will take steps to improve relations, as the two countries' energy ministers are expected to hold talks in the same context.
On relations with Greece, Erdogan once again attacked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over his comments on Turkey during his recent visit to the US.
Turkey has suspended the high-level strategy council contacts with Greece as Mitsotakis is no longer suitable for it, Erdogan told reporters.
During his visit to Washington, Mitsotakis urged the US not to proceed with the sale of 40 F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, as well as the sale of modernization kits for 80 of the F-16s in its air force.
Source: Proto Thema
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