Sweden‘s new prime minister vowed on Tuesday a firmer stance on fighting crime and terrorism during a visit to Turkey where he will seek the approval of President Tayyip Erdogan for his country’s bid to join NATO, according to Reuters.
Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But NATO member Turkey raised objections, citing security concerns related to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and other groups, and over the Nordic states’ ban on arms exports.
The three countries signed a memorandum in June that lifted Turkey’s veto while requiring Sweden and Finland to address its remaining concerns.
“I think the new government will have an even firmer approach in (relation to) the NATO application from Sweden,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters in Ankara during a visit to the Turkish parliament.
“One of this government’s main priorities is fighting crime, fighting organized crime, fighting the connection between organized crime and terrorism,” he said.
Erdogan, who has previously accused Sweden of harbouring PKK militants, was set to host Kristersson at the presidential palace later on Tuesday, with a news conference scheduled for 1530 GMT.
Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said on Saturday his country’s new government would distance itself from the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia in its bid to win Turkey’s support for its membership of the Western defence alliance.
Turkey views the YPG as an extension of the PKK, which launched an insurgency against the Turkish state in 1984 and is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
Sweden, along with the United States and several other NATO countries, has supported the YPG in its fight against Islamic State. Turkey has vowed to block Sweden’s application if it doesn’t stop.