Erdogan prepared a surprise for Finland and Sweden at NATO talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists his country cannot say yes to Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

“First of all, we will not say yes to joining NATO, a security organization, to those who impose sanctions against Turkey. Because then NATO ceases to be a security organization. We cannot say yes. We cannot be stung again there, where we were stung before,” Erdogan’s statement was quoted by UNIAN’s Telegram channel.

The Turkish President called Sweden “an incubation center for terrorist organizations.”

“They bring terrorists to their parliaments, give them a platform, send out special invitations and even have terrorists in their parliaments who support the Kurdistan Workers’ Party… They (delegations from Finland and Sweden. – Ed.) will come to Turkey on Monday. They will come to us to persuade. Sorry, they have nothing to count on,” the Turkish leader said.

Sweden and Finland apply for NATO membership

On May 15, the authorities of Sweden and Finland officially announced their decision to abandon their neutral status and apply for membership in NATO.

Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that “NATO’s doors are open” to both countries.

At the same time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is dissatisfied with the fact that representatives of Kurdish formations, primarily the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization in Turkey, find refuge in Sweden and Finland.

In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened that the plans of Finland and Sweden to join NATO would cause a “reaction” from the Kremlin.