Turkey´s Revenge

Ankara has been trying to block Finland and Sweden from entering into NATO

If one sets Russian threats aside, it seemed that Finland and Sweden would have it easy joining NATO. That wasn’t the case. Turkey showed its opposition to the allowance of these two countries into the military alliance. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that neither country should bother trying to convince him of changing his mind. Despite this, both countries would send their foreign ministers into Turkey

ANADOLU AGENCY @anadoluagency

Ignoring terrorist organizations that pose a threat to a NATO ally is not compatible with the “spirit of friendship and alliance,” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Finnish counterpart Sauli Niinisto in a phone call v.aa.com.tr/2594224

The disagreement of only one NATO member closes the doors of the organization to both countries.

Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, demanded explicit security guarantees from both countries. Ankara accuses Finland and Sweden of harboring members from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an organization that Turkey considers a terror organization, and a threat to its interests. However, Finland and Sweden also consider the PKK a terrorist organization. Erdogan also states that both countries harbor members of the Gulen Movement, blamed for the 2016 coup attempt.

Among the security guarantees demanded by Ankara, is the extradition of members from these two groups. Erdogan accused both countries of refusing to do so. He described Sweden as a “hatchery” for terrorist organizations.

The Turkish President also demanded the lift of an embargo imposed by Sweden on October 2019, during his military operation in Northern Syria.

It seems that, besides the Gulen Movement and the PKK, another of Erdogan´s motives for these actions is his lack of popularity.

Swedish Defense Minister, Peter Hultqvist, stated he was working hard to overcome Turkey´s reservations. Meanwhile, the Finnish Foreign Minister stated he did not want to bargain with Ankara.

Politikal Arena @ArenaPolitikal

Los embajadores de 🇸🇪Suecia y 🇫🇮Finlandia ante la OTAN entregaron su solicitud de ingreso en la Alianza en la sede de la organización transatlántica, en Bruselas, donde se reunieron con el secretario general aliado, Jens Stoltenberg. #Finland #SwedenNATO #FinlandNATO

Some believe that, despite Erdogan is threatening Finland and Sweden; the message is directed at the US. The Congress opposes giving F-16 to Turkey. It seems Ankara is evoking the memories from 1980, when Greece joined NATO. Turkey blames this allowance for Athens to take a “more aggressive posture” against it.

Guillermo is a journalist, writer and independent international analyst. If you like what you read, please support him by donating:

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