Istanbul, May 18, (dpa/GNA) – Turkey cannot accept a proposed enlargement that would compromise NATO’s own security, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday, referring to Sweden and Finland’s alleged support for terrorism.
NATO enlargement will depend on allies’ respect for Turkish security concerns, Erdogan told his ruling party members in parliament in the capital Ankara.
Erdogan said Sweden has recently rejected Turkey’s demand to extradite “30 terrorists,” adding: “You will not give us the terrorists but will ask for our approval on NATO membership.”
“NATO is a security organization. Therefore, we cannot say yes to depriving this security organization of its security,” Erdogan added.
GNA