Sweden y Türkiye, two enemies condemned to understand each other. One more meeting, one more meeting and no decision. NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberghas insisted that the time has come for the Nordic country to become part of the Atlantic Alliance but, once again, without specifying a date.
The leader of the military organization has highlighted, during the round after the meeting between Finland, Sweden y Türkiye in Brussels, that “the talks have been constructive”. Stoltenberg has also advanced that during the summit in Vilnius next week there will be more progress and he has praised the steps he has taken Stockholm to meet the demands of Ankara.
Next Monday, the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristerssonand the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoganthey plan to hold a meeting, within the framework of the NATO summit, to be able to specify, once and for all, the accession of the Nordic country to the Atlantic Alliance. The president of the United States, Joe Biden, who received Kristersson yesterday, declared that Sweden must enter the alliance “as soon as possible”.
While Finland became, last February, the 31st member of the organization, Sweden keep waiting to swell the list. Erdogan was very clear in imposing a veto on Stockholmwhom he accuses of “supporting terrorism.”
Türkiye has demanded the Nordic country to extradite more than a hundred people, allegedly related to the outlaw Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), also considered a terrorist organization in USA and the European Union.
Sweden, which at first was reluctant, has been giving in to the demands imposed by Erdogan. The Kristersson Executive has modified the Constitution and changed the anti-terrorism lawsall with the aim of overcoming the Turkish veto. Stockholm has approved new legislation, by which the Scandinavian country will include as a crime any link with a terrorist organization, which includes the PKK.
In addition, it has authorized the extradition to Türkiye from a supporter of PKK and, today while the meeting between the two countries was taking place, the Swedish Court has sentenced a Kurdish citizen to prison for his attempt to finance this party. However, Erdogan remains reluctant to give the definitive yes to Swedenand more after the recent burning of a Koran in the main mosque of the Swedish capital.
Even so, the NATO Secretary General has been positive and has assured that “important political decisions” are expected in the Eurasian country. A year ago at the Madrid summit, Türkiye, Finland y Sweden they signed the tripartite memorandum365 days later in Lithuaniais expected to eventually come true.
