On the eve of the important NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkish President Erdogan appears to have added a new condition to Turkey's approval of Sweden's accession to NATO. All of NATO's 31 members need to approve a country's accession into the NATO alliance. Previously, Erdogan had objected to Sweden's political asylum for Kurdish political refugees whom Turkey considers threats to its security. Now, Erdogan is saying that Turkey would approve Sweden's inclusion in NATO if Turkey's membership in the European Union would be opened:
“'Turkey has been waiting at the door of the European Union for over 50 years now, and almost all of the NATO member countries are now members of the European Union,' Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. 'I am making this call to these countries that have kept Turkey waiting at the gates of the European Union for more than 50 years.'
'Come and open the way for Turkey’s membership in the European Union. When you pave the way for Turkey, we’ll pave the way for Sweden as we did for Finland,' he added." (our emphasis)
Of course, Turkey didn't "pave the way for Finland": in the case of Finland, Erdogan held up their accession to extract concessions before grudgingly approving their inclusion. The European Union doesn't appear to want to link EU membership with NATO membership:
"EU Commission spokesperson Dana Spinant said that 'you cannot link the two processes in regards to Turkey.'
Turkey is a candidate to join the EU, but democratic backsliding during Erdogan’s presidency, disputes with EU-member Cyprus and other issues have held up the country’s progress toward admission in the 27-nation bloc."
Erdogan's surprise new condition may throw the Vilnius summit off track, as it was hoped that there would be a consensus to accept Sweden's membership this year (and Ukraine's eventually).
Perhaps the NATO allies could counter Erdogan's continued, incremental obstruction with a twist on Erdogan's proposal: come and open the way for Sweden to join NATO, and when you pave the way for Sweden, we'll pave the way for Turkey's membership in the EU, not the other way around.
UPDATE: Erdogan is reported to have dropped his opposition to Sweden joining NATO and will submit the appropriate accession resolution to his assembly.
(photo: Oliver Bunic / Bloomberg)
