After Protests And Burning Of Al-Qur'an In Stockholm, President Erdoğan Said Sweden Don't Expect Turkey's Support

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Wikimedia Commons/Kremlin.ru/The Russian Presidential Press and Information Office)

JAKARTA - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said Sweden should not expect Turkey's support for North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership after protests near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm at the weekend, including the burning of copies of the Koran.

The protests in Stockholm against Turkey and Sweden's Nato membership bid on Saturday raised tensions with Turkey, whose support Sweden needs to join the military alliance.

"Those who allow such blasphemy in front of our embassy, ​​can no longer expect our support for their NATO membership," President Erdogan said in a speech after a cabinet meeting, reported Reuters on January 24.

"If you really love members of terrorist organizations and enemies of Islam and protect them, then we advise you to ask for their support for the security of your country," he said.

Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom declined to immediately comment on President Erdogan's remarks, telling Reuters in a written statement he wanted to understand exactly what had been said.

"But Sweden will respect the existing agreements between Sweden, Finland, and Turkey regarding our NATO membership," he added.

Separately, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Finland and Sweden were ready to join the alliance but declined to comment on whether Washington considered President Erdogan's comments to mean closing the door on them.

"Ultimately, this is a decision and a consensus that Finland and Sweden have to reach with Turkey," Price said.

Price told reporters burning holy books was for many people an extremely disrespectful act, adding that the United States was aware those who may be behind what happened in Sweden may be deliberately trying to undermine unity across the Atlantic and among Washington's allies in the United States. Europe.

"We have a saying in this country - something can be legal but it's terrible. I think in this case what we've seen in the Swedish context falls into that category," Price said.

It is known that the burning of the Koran was carried out by Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish right-wing political party Hard Line. Paludan, who is also of Swedish nationality, has held several demonstrations in the past where he burned Korans.

Several Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait condemned the event. Turkey has summoned the Swedish ambassador, canceling the Swedish defense minister's planned visit to Ankara.

Sweden and Finland applied last year to join NATO after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but all 30 member states must agree to their offer.

Meanwhile, Ankara has previously said Sweden in particular should first take a clearer stance against what it sees as terrorists, especially Kurdish militants and the group blamed for the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.