Turkey may delay Sweden, Finland’s NATO accession for a year, says AKP deputy

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Talks for the NATO membership of Finland and Sweden continue as Turkey insists that it will not step back until its demands are met.

Akif Çağatay Kılıç, an MP for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the head of the parliament's foreign affairs committee, said Turkey may delay the accession of the two Nordic countries for as long as a year.

"This is a matter of vital national interest, and we are prepared to prevent their membership for as long as a year if necessary," The Guardian quoted him as saying during his recent visit to the UK.

"Turkey is the second-largest army in NATO and has been providing the drones that help Ukraine defend itself. We deserve greater respect.

"What are [Sweden and Finland] going to do? They have been harboring terrorist organizations that kill my people, disrespect my borders, and pose an existential threat to my country. The only thing we demand is that there are no distinctions. A terrorist organization is a terrorist organization."

CLICK - NATO chief welcomes steps by Sweden, Finland in line with Turkey's demands

Finland's concerns

Finland's Prime Minister Sanna Marin also said that her country's NATO accession may be delayed if Turkey's position does not change until the NATO summit at the end of the month.

Answering journalists' questions Marin said, "I think it's very important to go forward at this stage. If we don't solve these issues before Madrid, there is a risk that the situation will freeze."

She added, "We don't know for how long but it might freeze for a while."

Marin also stressed that they respect Turkey's concerns seriously, "and if there are some misunderstandings, to correct those," she said.

Sweden and Finland on May 18 formally applied to join NATO. Accusing them, especially the former, of providing a haven for "terrorists," Turkey has opposed their membership.

Turkey has demanded the two countries take concrete steps regarding "terrorists" and asked Sweden to lift an "arms sales embargo."

The two countries have stated that they are ready to address Turkey's concerns, with Sweden signaling it may resume arms exports to Turkey. (SD/TB/VK)