Turkey's talks with Sweden, Finland on NATO membership begin in Ankara

Photo: AA/File

With a proposed NATO expansion in the balance, consultations on Sweden and Finland's applications to join the alliance hosted by Turkiye began today (May 25) at the Presidential Complex in the capital city of Ankara.

Turkey's delegation at the meeting is headed by presidential spokesman İbrahim Kalın and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Önal. The visitors include Oscar Stenstrom, Sweden's state secretary for foreign affairs and security, and Jukka Salovaara, Finland's permanent foreign ministry state secretary, along with their delegations.

Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO on May 18 in a decision spurred by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Turkey has opposed the membership of the two countries, accusing them, especially Sweden, of tolerating and supporting "terrorists."

Both countries have expressed their readiness to address Turkey'S concerns.

According to reports in Turkey's pro-government media, Ankara has put forward a list of demands including the extradition of political refugees, taking a more clear stance against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), and cutting support to Kurdish armed groups in Syria. (VK)