Erdoğan: Turkey will say no to Sweden and Finland's NATO bid

Photo:Murat Çetinmühürdar - Ankara , AA

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President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said that "we will say no" to Sweden and Finland's NATO membership.

"We have told our relevant colleagues that we would say 'no' to Finland and Sweden's entry into NATO, and we will continue on our path like this," Erdoğan said this morning (May 19) in a meeting with a group of youth at the Presidential National Library in the capital, Ankara.

Erdoğan accused Finland and Sweeden of being home to terror,
"Both of the countries and especially Sweden is a real guesthouse for terror. They host both the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and People's Defense Units (YPG)" the President said.

"We already told them, NATO is a security organization. We can't accept terror organizations within a such security organization. We will say 'no' to Finland and Sweden's entry into NATO."

Regarding the Ukraine-Russia war, Erdoğan said, "We are pursuing a policy of balance regarding both Russia and Ukraine, and we will continue to pursue that. I don't think of cutting ties with Putin or Zelenskyy."

CLICK-What does Erdoğan want from Sweden and Finland for approval of their NATO membership?

CLICK-Erdoğan insists Turkey will not approve Sweden and Finland joining NATO

(AS/TB)