Finland

Türkiye may respond "differently" to Finland's NATO bid, which will "shock" Sweden, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Jan. 29.

"We may respond differently to Finland if necessary. Sweden would be shocked when we respond differently to Finland. But Finland should not make the same mistake," Erdoğan said at a meeting in the northwestern province of Bilecik.

Türkiye may respond "differently" to Finland's NATO bid that would "shock" Sweden, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on Jan. 29.

"We may respond differently to Finland if necessary. Sweden would be shocked when we respond differently to Finland. But Finland should not make the same mistake," Erdoğan said at a meeting in northwestern Bilecik province.

Turkey's president has suggested his country might approve Finland's application for NATO membership before taking any action on Sweden's, while the Turkish government issued a travel warning for European countries due to anti-Turkish demonstrations and what it described as Islamophobia.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry has summoned Denmark's Ambassador to Türkiye Danny Annan after Danish authorities permitted a provocative protest "involving an attack against the holy book of Quran" on Jan. 27, Foreign Ministry sources have said.

The authoritarianism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as his stance with regard to Sweden and Finland's NATO application, is drawing the ire of an increasing number of international media. 

The latest publication to denounce him was the German magazine Stern, whose cover on Thursday had his photo under the title "The Arsonist."

The Biden administration is moving ahead with its intention to supply Turkey with 40 new F-16 fighter jets and upgrade 80 of the country's older ones.

Turkey's foreign minister on Thursday accused Sweden of being complicit in a "hate and racist crime" for failing to prevent weekend protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam and pro-Kurdish groups.

Two provocative incidents in Stockholm this month have energised Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan ahead of tight elections and dimmed Sweden and Finland's hopes of joining NATO before the summer, diplomats, analysts and opposition politicians say.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday it was "meaningless" to hold a trilateral meeting with Sweden and Finland to discuss their NATO bids after protests this month in Stockholm.

Speaking at a news conference, Cavusoglu also said there is no offer to evaluate Sweden's and Finland's NATO membership separately.

Greece's "provocative" actions, rhetoric and efforts for armament will not provide any benefit beyond increasing the tension in the region, a National Security Council (MGK) statement said on Jan. 25.

Türkiye will not allow any sort of fait accompli that targets its national security and interests, the council said following a meeting at the helm of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.