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Erdogan against Nato additions

TURKISH president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is “not favourable” toward Finland and Sweden joining Nato – indicating that Turkey could use its status as a member of the western military alliance to veto moves to admit the two countries.

“We are following developments concerning Sweden and Finland carefully but we are not of a favourable opinion,” Erdogan said.

He explained his opposition by citing Sweden and other Scandinavian countries’ alleged support for Kurdish militants and others whom Turkey considers to be terrorists. He also accused Greece, a Nato ally, of using the alliance against Turkey”.

Meanwhile, a report by the Swedish government on the changed security environment facing the Nordic country after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine says Moscow would react negatively to Sweden joining Nato and launch several counter-measures.

The Swedish government’s security policy analysis, which will be used as a basis for Prime

Minister Magdalena Andersson’s cabinet to decide whether to seek membership in the western military alliance, was presented to Swedish politicians yesterday.

Sweden’s governing Social Democratic Party, led by Andersson, is expected to reveal its decision tomorrow.

The report pointed to Nato membership carrying a number of advantages for Sweden – above all the collective security provided by the 30-member military alliance.

It also lists numerous tactics Russia is likely to take in retaliation. These could include cyber attacks and violations of Swedish airspace or territorial sea.

Other aggressive behaviour, including strategic signalling with nuclear weapons, is also conceivable from Moscow, the report said.