Erdoğan tells Sweeden PM Andersson to change approach towards PKK and YPG

In a phone call with the Swedish premier, Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said that Stockholm needs to change its attitude toward PKK terror group and the Syrian branch YPG.

Türkiye wants binding commitments on all issues, concrete and clear implementation, Erdoğan told Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson during the telephone conversation.

Erdoğan told Swedish PM once again that Ankara expects Stockholm to lift the arms embargo and legal, actual curbs on the Turkish defense industry.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of over 40,000 people.

Erdoğan added that Türkiye also wants Sweden to fulfill its demands on extradition and deportation.

Erdoğan underlined that Türkiye hoped to see binding commitments on all these issues, with concrete and clear implementation.

Sweden, along with Finland, formally applied to join NATO last month, a decision spurred by Russia's war on Ukraine that began on Feb. 24.

But Türkiye, a longstanding member of the alliance, has voiced objections to the membership bids, criticizing the countries for tolerating and even supporting the terrorist groups.