Frustration over Turkey: Stoltenberg expects clear message
There is growing resentment within NATO over the delays in Turkey's approval of Sweden's admission to the defense alliance. He expects that there will be a very clear message to Turkish Minister Hakan Fidan at a meeting of foreign ministers this Tuesday, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels. This would be that Turkey must complete the ratification process quickly.
The meeting of foreign ministers this Tuesday and Wednesday was actually intended to celebrate Sweden's accession. However, Turkey has not yet completed the necessary ratification of the so-called accession protocol. Hungary has not yet done so either, but has recently repeatedly promised that it will not be the last NATO country to give its consent to Sweden's accession.
What might be behind the delaying tactics?
Sweden had originally hoped to join Nato as early as summer 2022. However, Turkey accused Swedish policy of lacking commitment against "terrorist organizations" such as the Kurdish Workers' Party (PKK) and refused to give its consent. Following concessions by Sweden, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently announced that he would allow the Turkish parliament to ratify the so-called accession protocol. However, it is currently stuck in a committee there.
Until recently, it was unclear whether Turkey wanted to use the stalling tactic to gain concessions in negotiations on arms deals. According to diplomats, it is also conceivable that anger over Islamophobic statements from Sweden is playing a role.
On Saturday, the leader of the right-wing populist Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Åkesson, called for mosques in which "anti-democratic, anti-Swedish, homophobic or anti-Semitic propaganda" is spread to be torn down. He also called for an immediate halt to the construction of new mosques. The Sweden Democrats were the second-strongest party in the Swedish parliamentary elections in 2022. Since then, the right-wing populists have acted as an important support party for the Swedish minority government.
- Despite the intended celebration of Sweden's accession to NATO during the meeting of foreign ministers, Turkey has yet to ratify the necessary accession protocol, causing frustration within the alliance.
- Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, has expressed his expectation for a clear message to Turkish Minister Hakan Fidan, stating the need for Turkey to complete the ratification process promptly.
- Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish President, recently announced his intention to allow the Turkish parliament to ratify Sweden's accession, but the process is currently stalled in a committee, raising questions about Turkey's tactics and potential motivations.
Source: www.dpa.com
