Sweden and Finland are preparing to become members of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)… While it was talked about that Turkey would prevent membership due to the intense support of the two countries to the terrorist organizations PYD/YPG, the Syrian extension of the terrorist organization PKK, President Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu also made statements in this manner. After these statements, Sweden sent a negotiation team to Turkey, while NATO made a statement about Turkey. NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said, “Turkey's intention is not to prevent Finland and Sweden from joining NATO. They said it openly.” In the following moments, Sweden and Finland announced that they would not extradite 33 terrorists who are members of terrorist organizations FETÖ and PKK. Istanbul Topkapi University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Celalettin Yavuz evaluated the issue between the three countries and NATO in our newspaper.
“SWEDEN APPROACHES WITH AN OPPRESSIVE THOUGHT”
Yavuz said: "Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linda, in the face of Turkey's rightful objection, by saying, ‘We recognize the PKK as a terrorist organization, but we do not see the YPG in Syria as a terrorist organization. There are already other NATO member countries that behave this way.’ She tries to embellish the business, or she tries to take countries such as the USA that openly support the YPG with her. According to the statements of Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu, Finland approaches Turkey's reasons more in harmony, while Sweden approaches it with a slightly different and almost 'imposing' mindset. However, Sweden also announced that it would send a diplomatic delegation to Turkey in order to find a basis for reconciliation with Turkey.”
"NATO'S HEAVY BALLS MAY TRY TO CONVINCE TURKEY WITH NEW SANCTIONS"
Continuing his explanations about Sweden, Yavuz added, "Sweden, which raised its objections about Turkey's reasons, may want to use the Europe Union (EU) trump card for a while, and continue the mistake of ‘speaking softly but carrying a big stick’ as they are accustomed to. Even the powerful countries of the EU and the heavyweights of NATO may try to persuade Turkey with new sanctions. With making a little empathy, they need to seek answers to Turkish public sentiment. In fact, Turkey's trump card against these two countries is the presence of a strong Turkey that can act as a barrier on the Black Sea and the southeast flank of NATO against Russia, which has become evident since 2014 and emerged as a major threat to Europe with its attack on Ukraine on February 24, rather than a ‘veto card’ against these two countries. If this important issue is taken into account, they will be able to think more reasonably about meeting Turkey's demands.”
“IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO SUPPORT THE TERRORIST ELEMENTS FOR TWO COUNTRIES”
Istanbul Topkapi University Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Celalettin Yavuz said, “I look at the event from two perspectives. First, Turkey's justifications... Sweden and Finland, which want to become NATO members, are "hosting" terrorist elements that pose a threat to Turkey's internal stability, particularly the Syrian extension of the PKK terrorist organization, the PYD/YPG, which Turkey has been fighting for years. It's unacceptable to support them. Since the years of 1980s, the support that Sweden has given to the anti-Turkish terrorist organization elements and their sympathizers despite Turkey is known by the Turkish public. Even during the “informal” meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers held in Berlin on May 14, 2022, the so-called commander of the terrorist organization YPG in Syria was accepted by the Swedish defense minister. These reasons of Turkey do not mean to prevent the NATO membership of the two countries. There is an open door, and it has been clearly expressed.”
“THIS INITIATIVE OF TWO COUNTRIES IS TIMELESS”
By adding, "The second important issue is related to the timing of the NATO membership of the two countries," Yavuz said, "These countries, which were not NATO members during the Cold War period, decided to become members after Russia's attack on Ukraine. However, one of the main reasons for Russia's attack on Ukraine was the objection to the existence of a NATO country that could be a threat to Russia ‘under its nose’. While Russia has this sensitivity, risking almost everything, this initiative of the two countries is untimely despite Russia’s attacking Ukraine. As a matter of fact, in a phone call with his Finnish counterpart, Russian President Putin clearly stated that ‘Finland's NATO membership would have bad consequences’. Both countries have small numbers of soldiers, but in terms of air and naval forces, they can provide a significant reinforcement to NATO's northern flank. Although it will be beneficial for NATO in the long and medium term, under the current conditions, this initiative may cause unexpected new instabilities such as 'putting a stick in the beehive'."