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Erdogan says he could approve Finland's membership in NATO: 'Sweden will be shocked'

Both Finland and Sweden have submitted applications to join the alliance.

Erdogan says he can approve Finland's membership in NATO: 'Sweden will be shocked' (Photo: REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo)

Sputnik - Turkey could "shock" Sweden and decide to approve Finland's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday (29).

 Both Finland and Sweden submitted applications to join the alliance on May 18, 2022, following the start of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

 To date, Stockholm and Helsinki have not had their requests ratified, as they have not received approval from two of the 30 countries: Hungary and Turkey.

 "If necessary, we can send a different message about Finland. Sweden will be shocked when we send a different message about Finland," Erdogan said.

 Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström recently stated that, following the incidents involving the burning of the Quran in the country, the process of Sweden's accession to NATO has been suspended. Despite this, he expressed hope that agreements with Ankara could be reached at the summit of foreign ministers of the alliance countries in Vilnius in July.

 According to a source in Ankara who spoke to Sputnik, the mechanism for Sweden and Finland's accession process to NATO has been suspended indefinitely at the request of the Turkish side.

 Previously, Finland's Foreign Minister, Pekka Haavisto, stated that he agreed to the ratification process continuing separately from Sweden, but later backtracked.

 Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated that Turkey has not received any proposals from Finland regarding an independent application to join NATO.