Turkish Opposition Delays Sweden's Path to NATO Alliance
Geographically, Sweden shares a maritime border with Russia's Kaliningrad and possesses the strategically significant island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, which plays a crucial role in NATO's ability to defend the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia) in the event of Russian aggression.
According to recent reports, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made it clear on Monday that Turkey is not yet prepared to endorse Sweden's membership in NATO, citing the need for further actions to be taken[1].
Erdogan has previously expressed reservations about Sweden joining NATO due to concerns about the presence of individuals associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) in the country. Ankara, along with its Western allies, considers the PKK a terrorist organization.
Turkey has demanded that Sweden extradite PKK members as a prerequisite for approving its NATO membership. However, Sweden has denied supporting the PKK and its courts have impeded certain deportations. Furthermore, Turkey holds similar objections to Finland's membership based on comparable grounds.
The PKK and Sweden
The PKK, a militant group advocating for Kurdish self-rule, initiated an armed struggle in Turkey back in 1984, which involved activities such as kidnappings and bombings. The United States and the European Union have classified the PKK as a terrorist organization.
Various efforts have been made to find a resolution to the conflict between Turkey and the PKK. In 2013, the Turkish government initiated peace talks with Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the PKK. However, the ceasefire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed in 2015, leading to subsequent rounds of fighting between the two sides.
Although Sweden has yet to become a NATO member, its inclusion would provide several advantages and rejuvenate the alliance. Geographically, Sweden shares a maritime border with Russia's Kaliningrad and possesses the strategically significant island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea, which plays a crucial role in NATO's ability to defend the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia) in the event of Russian aggression.
While Sweden denies supporting the PKK, its courts have obstructed certain extraditions. However, Sweden has extradited a convicted member of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party to Turkey. In a memorandum signed during a recent NATO summit, Finland and Sweden committed to addressing Turkey's deportation or extradition requests regarding suspected terrorists promptly and efficiently.
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NATO and Sweden
As of today, there are currently 30 member countries in NATO, each joining in various years. The countries include Albania (2009), Belgium (1949), Bulgaria (2004), Canada (1949), Croatia (2009), Czech Republic (1999), Denmark (1949), Estonia (2004), France (1949), Germany (1955), Greece (1952), Hungary (1999), Iceland (1949), Italy (1949), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), Luxembourg (1949), Montenegro (2017), Netherlands (1949), North Macedonia (2020), Norway (1949), Poland (1999), Portugal (1949), Romania (2004), Slovakia (2004), Slovenia (2004), Spain (1982), Turkey (1952), United Kingdom (1949), and the United States of America (1949).
In conclusion, the issue of Sweden's NATO membership remains unresolved as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asserts that more work needs to be done before ratification. Turkey's concerns about the presence of PKK members in Sweden and its opposition to Finland's membership on similar grounds add complexity to the situation. Nonetheless, Sweden's potential inclusion in NATO could provide strategic advantages for the alliance, particularly in terms of geographical proximity and defense capabilities in the Baltic region.