Turkey's Plan To Join NATO Asks Sweden To Be More Serious In Fighting Terrorism

JAKARTA - Sweden's plan to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) received a response from Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hopes the Scandinavian country takes serious steps to tackle terrorism.

The claim that the PKK/YPG (Partiya Karkerên Kurdistan/ Kurdistan Workers Party ) terror group is fighting the Daesh group, also known as ISIS, does not reflect reality.

Erdogan made the remarks during talks with Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson to discuss Stockholm's plans to join NATO, which requires approval from Ankara.

Erdogan expressed Turkey's concerns about the activities of the PKK/YPG and FETO terror groups in Sweden. He said Sweden must end its financial, political and arms support to these groups.

He also emphasized that Turkey has always supported NATO's open-door policy, and that solidarity is important for the security of member states and for the common security.

Sweden's arms restrictions against Turkey were another topic that was brought up during the conversation.

Erdogan said Turkey's cross-border military campaign in northern Syria was necessary to confront the terror threat in the region, and Ankara expects Stockholm to lift restrictions.

Responding to talks with Erdogan, Andersson said Sweden was looking forward "to strengthening our bilateral relations, including in peace, security and the fight against terrorism."

Speaking to public broadcaster SVT after a phone call with Erdogan, Andersson said his country openly supports the fight against terrorism and the inclusion of the PKK on the terrorist list.

"I stress that Sweden welcomes the possibility of cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and emphasizes that Sweden is clearly behind the war on terrorism and the PKK terrorist list," he said.

Sweden and Finland officially signed up to join NATO on Wednesday, May 18. The decision was prompted by Russia's war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022.

But Turkey, a longtime member of NATO, has voiced its objections to Sweden and Finland's membership. Turkey criticizes these countries for tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups.

During more than 35 years of terrorizing Turkey, the PKK - listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the United States and the European Union - has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people. The YPG is the PKK branch in Syria.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the failed coup of July 15, 2016 in Turkiye, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 others injured.

Ankara accuses FETO of being behind a long-term plan to overthrow the government through infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.