Sweden Seeking NATO berth

By Our Special Correspondent

Turkey´s president on Monday complicated Sweden and Finland´s historic bid to join NATO, saying he cannot allow them to become members of the alliance because of their perceived inaction against exiled Kurdish militants.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doubled down on comments last week indicating that the two Nordic countries´ paths to NATO would be anything but smooth. All 30 current NATO countries must agree to open the door to new members.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a historic shift that comes after more than 200 years of military nonalignment in the Nordic Country. “Neither country has an open, clear stance against terrorist organizations,” Erdogan said, in an apparent reference to Kurdish militant groups such as the banned Kurdistan Workers´ Party, or PKK.

Prime Minister Magadalena Andersson called it a historic change in our country’s security policy as she addressed lawmakers in the Swedish capital.