Turkey's Erdogan conditions support for Nordic nations' NATO bids

Turkey has long accused Nordic countries, in particular Sweden which has a strong Turkish immigrant community, of harbouring outlawed Kurdish militants

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkey would not look "positively" on Sweden and Finland's NATO bids unless its terror-related concerns were addressed, despite broad support from other allies including the United States.

Turkey has long accused Nordic countries, in particular Sweden which has a strong Turkish immigrant community, of harbouring outlawed Kurdish militants as well as supporters of Fethullah Gulen, the US-based preacher wanted over the failed 2016 coup.

"Unless Sweden and Finland clearly show that they will stand in solidarity with Turkey on fundamental issues, especially in the fight against terrorism, we will not approach these countries' NATO membership positively," Erdogan told NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg in a phone call, according to the presidency.

"We agree that the security concerns of all allies must be taken into account and talks need to continue to find a solution," he said. 

- 'Concrete steps' -

He told Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson that "Sweden's political, financial and arms support to terrorist organisations must end", the presidency said. 

The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is blacklisted as a "terrorist organisation" by Turkey and Western allies like the European Union -- which includes Finland and Sweden.

Membership requires the consent of all 30 existing members but Turkey is putting a spanner in the works.

"Ankara is signaling it will greenlight Helsinki's accession to the alliance, but block membership for Stockholm -- unless Sweden delivers concessions" on the PKK, he added.

But the two nations moved ahead with their membership bid in shock over their giant neighbour's invasion of Ukraine, which had unsuccessfully sought to join NATO.

Erdogan also told Andersson to "lift restrictions imposed on Turkey in the defence industry" after the army's Syria operation in 2019.

In another phone call with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, Erdogan said turning a blind eye to "terror" organisations posing a threat to a NATO ally was "incompatible with the spirit of friendship and alliance".

In return, Niinisto praised "an open and direct phone call" with Erdogan. 

"Finland condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Close dialogue continues."

Biden said "Finland and Sweden make NATO stronger", and offered the "full, total, complete backing of the United States of America".

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