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Finland and Sweden formally applied on Wednesday to join
U.S.-led NATO, a decision spurred by Russia's invasion of
Ukraine. Turkey's objections have come as a surprise to the
other members of the alliance.
"We will continue our policy in a determined way. We have told
allies that we will say no to Finland and Sweden's NATO
membership," Erdogan said in an interview with students? late on
Wednesday.
The Turkish president said Sweden and Finland harbor and finance
"terrorists" and supply them with weapons, repeating Ankara's
accusation that the countries supports groups that it deems
terrorists, namely the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant
group and Syrian Kurdish YPG, which it also views as a terrorist
group closely tied to the PKK.
"NATO is a security alliance and we cannot accept terrorists to
be in it," Erdogan also said.
(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)
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