«We do not see the issue of Finland-Sweden joining NATO in a positive light,» Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a statement. He said the alliance in the past had made the same mistake with Greece.
Ο Erdogan made these statements after the Friday prayer, stressing. Finland we are watching the developments, but we do not see it positively, because in the past, previous governments of ours made a mistake about Greece on the subject of NATO. And you know the attitude of Greece against Turkey by taking the NATO behind her. That is why we do not want to make a second mistake as Turkey.».
Ο Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was also asked if he wanted to comment on the attitude that - according to the Turkish media - Kyriakos Mitsotakis will show in the US regarding the sale of F-16s to Turkey: «The messages Mitsotakis will give to them (in the US) is another matter. So, especially after we hear Biden's statements and then we will position ourselves.».
Ο Turkish president also noted that another reason why it does not see integration positively of the 2 Nordic countries to NATO, is the support that both they and the US give to terrorism.
«Unfortunately, the Nordic countries are hosting and embracing like mothers terrorist organisations like the PKK and DHKP-C and not only that, they are also putting them in their parliaments. So it is not possible for us to be positive after all this. Also, the YPG is a terrorist organization and the YPG is the same as the PKK. It is not possible to accept this mistake by America», he said and continued:
«America has unfortunately given all kinds of financial support against the PKK terrorist organization, against all organizations in northern Syria. It has been sending equipment and ammunition in trucks. We cannot afford to be blindfolded against the terrorists. And we say this in countries friendly to us. You're wrong, do the right thing.».
This comes against the backdrop of the two Scandinavian countries joining NATO, a move that radically changes Europe's post-Cold War security architecture. In fact, in recent days, there have been scenarios circulating about Turkey's veto of the two countries' membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
Is there a veto risk?;
According to the pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, relations with Russia are not expected to influence Turkey's vote for NATO membership. As in the past, Ankara's decision to join the Finland and Sweden, which the Russia has threatened, will be determined by the bilateral relations that the Turkey with each country, namely Finland and Sweden.
On the basis of the data so far, as the newspaper close to the presidential election believes, the vote could be positive for Finland's membership of the NATO, but as regards the integration of Sweden will have particular weight in Turkey's decision the «sympathy» shown by Stockholm to what Anchor It says Kurdish terrorism.
NATO's expansion to the north disturbs the Russia and the Turkey will examine the issue from the perspective of not disturbing the NATO structure on the one hand and Turkey's national security on the other, taking into account the possible security implications for the Baltic region.
«Ankara's »condition", according to the newspaper, is that the security dialogue, which has been neglected for many years between Turkey and NATO, be increased and that Ankara's security concerns, particularly regarding support for terrorism, be taken into account.
Discussions to address Turkey's reservations have already begun by Western countries in order to secure Ankara's vote, which may - as Yeni Safak suggests - bring positive trade-offs. «This vote can be an opportunity for Turkey's EU membership and for normalising relations with NATO member states, especially the US.».
By Maria Zacharakis
