Sweden PM pledges firmer stance on crime, terrorism to seek Turkey's approval for NATO bid

Sweden and Finland’s bids to join the NATO alliance have run into opposition from Turkey over issues on terrorism and crime. In an effort to sway Turkey’s decision, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson pledged a tougher stance on crime and terrorism.

Kristersson vowed Tuesday to take a tougher stance on crime and terrorism in the country during his visit to Turkey. Kristersson visited Turkey to meet with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to gain Ankara’s approval to join the NATO alliance.

Turkey has opposed the bids of Sweden and Finland over security concerns surrounding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party and other groups which Ankara considers terrorists, as well as the Nordic region’s ban on arms exports. Erdogan has also accused Sweden of harboring PKK militants.

“I think the new government will have an even firmer approach in the NATO application from Sweden,” Kristersson told reporters in Ankara during his 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.”

Sweden and Finland jointly applied for NATO membership back in May as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Nearly every country under the alliance has ratified Sweden and Finland’s bids for accession. Back in June, the three countries signed a memorandum to lift Turkey’s veto and requiring Sweden and Finland to address Ankara’s concerns.

Swedish foreign minister Tobias Billstrom said Saturday that the new Swedish government would distance itself from the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia group in another effort to win Turkey’s support in its NATO accession.

Erdogan said Tuesday that Ankara has made clear its expectation of seeing concrete measures from Sweden to address its anti-terrorism obligations as stated in the memorandum.

“In our meeting, we have openly shared our expectations for concrete steps regarding the implementation of the provisions in the memorandum,” Erdogan told reporters in a joint news conference with Kristersson.

“I want to reassure all Turks, Sweden will live up to all the obligations made to Turkey in countering the terrorist threat,” said Kristersson during the news conference, adding that he understood Turkey’s fight against terrorism.