A History is Being Made, NATO Will Have a Counter-Terrorism Coordinator

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg while giving a press statement on the sidelines of the Vilnius summit, Lithuania. (Source: NATO)

JAKARTA - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will step up its efforts in fighting terrorism, in line with the agreement reached between Sweden and Turkey, giving the Nordic country the green light to join the alliance.

He conveyed this after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

"The memorandum agreed a year ago at the Madrid summit has been reached. This has given more in our fight against terrorism, better security for Turkey, and a stronger NATO," Stoltenberg was quoted as saying on the NATO website, July 12.

One of Ankara's emphasis on Stockholm's accession conditions is regarding the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is considered a terrorist organization by Turkey, the United States, and the European Union.

Stoltenberg said that since the 2022 Madrid summit was related to security issues, Sweden had amended its constitution, changed its laws, significantly expanded counter-terrorism cooperation against the PKK, and resumed arms exports.

"Sweden's cooperation with Turkey in fighting terrorism will continue after accession," he said, welcoming the two countries' agreement to form a new bilateral security partnership.

"NATO will also significantly increase its work in this area, and I will be creating, for the first time in NATO, the post of Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism," Stoltenberg said.

"Completing Sweden's accession to NATO is a historic step that benefits the security of all NATO Allies at this critical time. It makes us all stronger and safer," he said.

It is known that Sweden and Finland abandoned their neutral policies and applied for NATO membership last year, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Their accession must be approved by all NATO members.

Finland had first received approval in April, although it had to "wait longer" for approval from Turkey and Hungary. Meanwhile, Sweden still has to be patient longer.

With Turkey's green light, Sweden has practically no more obstacles to joining NATO, after a similar signal was also given by Hungary on Thursday.