Erdoğan tells UK PM Johnson: Sweden and Finland’s ties with YPG/PKK constitute main problem in NATO membership bids
In a phone call on Friday, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Boris Johnson that Sweden and Finland's ties with individuals and so-called organizations that operate under the control of the YPG/PKK terror group constitute the "main problem" in their NATO membership bids. Two leaders also discussed bilateral relations, regional developments, and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war.
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 11:07 | 20 May 2022
- Modified Date: 11:21 | 20 May 2022
Sweden and Finland's ties with individuals and so-called organizations that operate under the control of the YPG/PKK terror group constitute the "main problem" in their NATO membership bids, the Turkish president told the British prime minister on Friday.
In a phone call, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Boris Johnson discussed bilateral relations, as well as regional developments, including Sweden and Finland's NATO bids and the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, according to a statement from the Turkish Presidential Communications Directorate.
Erdoğan stressed that the Turkish government wants to make sure that Finland and Sweden uphold NATO values and take into account Turkey's legitimate concerns.
He said that the justified reaction of the Turkish public against the NATO membership request of countries that support terrorism should not be ignored.
Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO on Wednesday-a decision spurred by Russia's war on Ukraine, which began in February. But Turkey, a longstanding member of the alliance, has voiced objections to the membership bids, criticizing the countries for tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups.
In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK-listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the US, and the EU-has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people. The YPG is the PKK's Syrian offshoot.