Türkiye will not ratify Sweden's NATO bid before October: Erdoğan

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has reiterated Türkiye's calls for a stricter and tougher stance against terrorism at NATO's critical leaders' summit in Vilnius which has produced important decisions such as the appointment of a special counterterrorism coordinator.

"Fighting against mercilessly and without buts is our red line. We are expecting a clear stance against terror from all our allies. I have conveyed this message," Erdoğan stressed during a press conference following two-day long NATO summit.

Stressing that terrorism is one of the top threats against the NATO and Türkiye has been fighting against multiple terror organizations in the past four decades, Erdoğan said recalling that thousands of Turkish citizens have been killed by the terrorists.

"Actually, the fact that some of our allies have established malign relationship with the YPG/PYD in northern Syria is giving damage on our allied cooperation. This is unexplainable and not reasonable," Erdoğan said, referring to the United States which has been partnering with the group.

"It is really thoughtful to still talk about the need for fighting terrorism after all these pains," Erdoğan stressed.

President Erdoğan welcomed the decision by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to appoint a special counterterrorism coordinator and the fact that alliance will revise its defensive plans against terrorism. "These are the decision that strengthen the commitment of our alliance in the fight against terror. Türkiye's efforts have been effective to this end."

Sweden will introduce a road map

On Sweden's bid to join the NATO, Erdoğan recalled that he agreed with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on a seven article joint statement at a meeting...