Türkiye not taking step back on its demands for Finland, Sweden joining NATO

Türkiye has set ten conditions for Sweden and Finland, under which they would join NATO.

Ankara offered these countries to help it in the fight against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization banned in Türkiye and the Fethullahist Terrorist Organisation (FETO), and their branches (Gulen is accused of attempts of the coup in Türkiye in 2016), according to the Türkiye-based Yenisafak newspaper.

Sweden and Finland were asked to prevent the presence of PKK representatives in their territories, as well as to stop the activities of FETO, and close the related website and media outlets.

In addition, Türkiye insists on freezing the assets of these organizations and associations, and on the deportation and extradition of persons associated with terrorism.

“It has been stated that terrorist organizations such as the PKK are prohibited from allowing demonstrations. Two countries (Sweden and Finland) were asked to share intelligence with Türkiye,” the statement wrote.

Helsinki and Stockholm also called for lifting restrictions on the defence industry against Türkiye.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Sweden and Finland will not join NATO until Ankara's demands to stop supporting terrorism, primarily the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), are delivered.