Sweden Claims To Fulfill Anti-terrorism Commitment To Join NATO

UNSPLASH/NFT CAR GIRL ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said his country had fulfilled its commitment to fighting terrorist groups in his country as one of the conditions to join NATO.

He also said Sweden condemns all terrorist organizations, including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) which are considered dangerous organizations by the Turkish Government. Turkey and a number of Western countries include the organization on the list of terrorist organizations.

During a press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna in Paris, Billstrom said Sweden had fulfilled the final part of its commitments according to Turkey, Sweden, and Finland's trilateral agreement signed in Madrid in June 2022.

Sweden has complied with Turkey's request to fight terrorism by passing a new anti-terror law that has been in effect since June 1, he said.

He stressed that Stockholm and Ankara have the same goal, namely fighting terrorism.

Regarding the government's position in fighting PKK, Billstrom reiterated that Sweden has fulfilled its commitments and cooperation between Swedish and Turkish police has increased rapidly.

"Swed's attitude towards PKK is very clear. That's why we want to fulfill everything that is written and decided in the memorandum to become a member of NATO," he said.

Finland and Sweden proposed to become NATO members after Russia fought Ukraine in February 2022.

Despite agreeing to Finland membership, Turkey is still waiting for Sweden to fulfill its commitments under a mutually agreed agreement in Spain.

A number of NATO foreign ministers expect Turkey to agree to Sweden's bid ahead of next month's NATO summit.

However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey would provide answers to Sweden's proposal to become a NATO member provided Sweden took a role in fighting the PKK terror group before the summit took place.