Sweden, Finland’s support to terrorist organizations threat to NATO: Akar

The fact that Sweden and Finland are providing political, financial and military support to terrorist organizations poses a threat to NATO as well, Türkiye's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has said, expressing Ankara's disturbance over the continued arms embargo by some allied countries.

"The fact that Sweden and Finland have turned into a terror hotbed, provide political and financial support and supply arms is a threat to NATO as well. Can it be acceptable that terrorists in Iraq and northern Syria escape to these countries after attacking our country? Would there be such an allied relationship? Would it fit with alliance spirit?" Akar asked at a meeting with reporters after the conclusion of NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels late on June 16.

Akar attended two-day ministerial meetings at NATO headquarters, where he also had bilateral meetings with his colleagues from the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Greece and others. The ministers discussed the new military measures in the support of NATO's eastern borders and the content of the upcoming NATO leaders' summit in late June in Madrid, particularly Sweden and Finland's bid to join the alliance.

Türkiye says it won't approve the two Nordic states' bid to join the alliance until they give written assurances on the fight against terrorism, namely the PKK and its Syrian offshoot, YPG.

"An understanding that ignores terrorists that attack an allied country, kill its security forces and slaughter innocent people does not comply with the friendship and alliance spirit," Akar stressed.

The minister emphasized Türkiye's active and constructive role within the center of the NATO's security, stressing that they pledge importance to the expansion of NATO to the extent of the respect paid...