Turkey's president says no support for Sweden's NATO bid

[ripcord]

Source: ABC News

ISTANBUL -- Turkey’s president cast serious doubt on NATO's expansion Monday after warning Sweden not to expect support for its bid for membership into the military alliance following weekend protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam activist and pro-Kurdish groups.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed Rasmus Paludan’s Quran-burning protest on Saturday, saying it was an insult to everyone, especially to Muslims. He was particularly incensed at Swedish authorities for allowing the demonstration to take place outside the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm under “the protection” of security forces.

“It is clear that those who allowed such vileness to take place in front of our embassy can no longer expect any charity from us regarding their NATO membership application,” Erdogan said in his first comments regarding the weekend protests, saying Sweden must have calculated the consequences of permitting Paludan's demonstration.

The burning of Islam's holy book angered people across the political spectrum in Turkey, just as Sweden and Finland appeared on the cusp of NATO membership after dropping their longstanding policies of military nonalignment following Russia's war on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin now stands to benefit as the potential enlargement of the world’s most powerful military alliance appears to be stymied.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/turkeys-president-support-swedens-nato-bid-96610783

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I'm not sure why anyone thought a public burning the Quran was a good idea, people have the right to free speech but others have a right to react to it.

[Irish_Dem]

1. Probably holding out for some sort of financial deal?

Or he wants something else for his vote?

Or perhaps he has already been paid off?

[TexasTowelie]

4. Erdogan wants F-16s so he can continue his conflict with the Kurds.

He is also looking for a financial deal since inflation is at 64%.

[Irish_Dem]

5. Yep, just like Germany holds tanks hostage to get some sort of deal.

Lots of behind the scenes wheeling and dealing right now.

[Escurumbele]

14. Smells like Putin to me...

[Irish_Dem]

16. Putin is estimated to be worth $200 billion. That buys a lot of puppets.

[dalton99a]

3. Turkey should be expelled from NATO

Backstabbing useless leeches

[Irish_Dem]

6. Germany is doing the same thing with the tanks.

Looking to swing a deal.

While people in Ukraine are dying.

[atreides1]

18. There is a slight difference

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-signals-shift-veto-leopard-tanks-ukraine-2023-01-23/




Germany is not blocking the re-export of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the European Union's top diplomat said on Monday, after Poland vowed to send some as long as other countries did too. Germany, which must approve re-exports of the Leopard, has held back, wary of moves that could cause Moscow to escalate.

[Irish_Dem]

19. Germany got the $$ deal it wanted so released the tanks.

The rumor mill is that they were trying to swing a deal with Poland about some weapon sales.
The deal was made and Germany released the tanks.

The "Germany wary of Russia" story was totally laughable.
So they are afraid one week, but not the next?

Germany got the money from Poland they wanted and stopped holding their tanks hostage.
Only story that makes sense.

[yaesu]

13. That pretty much sums up turkey under fascist control, have no idea who the dumbass

was who allowed them into NATO in the first place.

[atreides1]

17. Well

When NATO was formed...they forgot to put rules in place to be able kick a country from the alliance!

That's the problem!

[Mister Ed]

15. Geography is what has made Turkey useful to NATO.

Turkey has been a troublesome ally indeed, but its geographical location has made it a bulwark against Soviet (and now Russian) expansion.

[SunSeeker]

7. Sweden is a free country, so people there have freedom of expression.

Tayyip Erdogan obviously does not understand this concept, since he jails those in Turkey he disagrees with.

[msongs]

8. insecure religionists cant take over the world so they pout nt

[Eugene]

9. The Quran burning was intentional sabotage by a far-right extremist.

He did this to provoke Erdogan and blow up the alliance.

[SunSeeker]

10. And Erdogan immediately lived up to the stereotype being pushed by the right.

Erdogan is a stupid authoritaian.

[Get Me Outta Here]

11. Nice Parking Lot

Paving Turkey could eliminate parking problems on TWO continents.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. Erdogan

is the worst thing that has happened to Turkey since WWI.

[dembotoz]

20. he is using black mail to get sweden to had over his enemies

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/23/turkey-pursuit-dissident-exiles/

[republianmushroom]

21. probably true, Russia, doesn't support it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. Finland's top diplomat hints at his country joining NATO without Sweden

Finland’s foreign minister suggested Tuesday that his country might consider joining NATO without neighboring Sweden if Turkey continues to block their joint bid to enter the military alliance.

Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto later backpedaled, but his comments were the first time a leading government official in either Nordic country appeared to raise doubts about becoming NATO members together at a time when the alliance is seeking to present a united front in the face of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Sweden and Finland rushed to apply for NATO membership following Moscow's invasion, abandoning their long-standing non-alignment policy. Their accession needs the approval of all existing NATO members, including Turkey, which has so far blocked the expansion, saying Sweden in particular needs to crack down on exiled Kurdish militants and their sympathizers.

On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sweden again not to expect support for its application following weekend protests in Stockholm by an anti-Islam activist and pro-Kurdish groups.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/finland-s-top-diplomat-hints-at-his-country-joining-nato-without-sweden/ar-AA16GJ0v

[Eugene]

23. 'Pro-Putin journalist' paid for Quran-burning stunt in Sweden

‘Pro-Putin journalist’ paid for Quran-burning stunt in Sweden (The Times)

A Quran-burning stunt which could jeopardise Sweden’s attempt to join Nato was organised by a far-right journalist with links to a Kremlin-backed television channel, it has emerged.

Chang Frick paid 320 Swedish krona (£25) for a permit to hold the demonstration near Turkey’s embassy in Stockholm, according to local media. Frick, a former contributor to Russia Today, owns a ring-wing populist website and is a presenter on the television channel of the Sweden Democrats, a nationalist political party.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/pro-putin-journalist-paid-for-quran-burning-stunt-in-sweden-cv0schbpg

No-paywall link: https://archive.is/gLzSa

[dalton99a]

24. +1