Sweden’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reached its final hurdle on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine last February prompted Sweden and Finland to begin efforts to join NATO, a military alliance of European and North American countries. fear of what he sees as his relaxed attitude towards militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey considers a terrorist organization.
Tensions between Turkey and Sweden have risen in recent weeks amid Kurdish and far-right protests in Stockholm. A protest in which a far-right politician burned a Koran, Islam’s holy book, drew sharp reproaches from Turkey.
On Monday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan threatened to derail Sweden’s bid for the NATO club over the incident.
“Those who allow such blasphemy in front of our embassy can no longer count on us for their NATO membership,” Erdogan said on Monday, according to Reuters.
He added: “If you love members of terrorist organizations and enemies of Islam so much and protect them, we recommend that you seek them out for the security of your country. “
According to the Associated Press, Erdogan said Sweden’s NATO club “is happening. “
U. S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told Reuters that “this is a resolution and a consensus that Finland and Sweden will have to achieve with Turkey. “However, he did not say whether U. S. officials believed the dispute would lead to the permanent blockade of Sweden. of the alliance.
It was not yet clear whether the incident would lead to Finland’s accession.
Turkey, Sweden and Finland all appeared to have made some progress in the months leading up to the most recent protest. In June, they agreed on an agreement that would have paved the way for their accession.
The deal addressed Erdogan’s security concerns, pledging “unwavering solidarity and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, in all its bureaucracy and demonstrations, which poses a direct risk to the Allies’ national security in terms of foreign peace and security. “
Vladimir Putin would be one of the beneficiaries of the blockade of the Swedish NATO club.
Putin has spoken out against expanding the coalition, which he sees as an invasion of Moscow’s influence within the former Soviet republics and Eastern Europe. In the months leading up to the invasion of Ukraine, Putin condemned the option of Ukraine joining the coalition.
However, Ukraine’s accession lately does not have the support of NATO member states, adding the United States, which has raised concerns about political corruption in Kyiv.
Moscow has threatened to retaliate if Sweden and Finland join NATO. Putin also said that “the expansion of military infrastructure on this territory would boost our reaction. “
Newsweek has reached out to Sweden’s Foreign Ministry for comment.
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