Sweden should not count on Türkiye's support to join NATO, says Erdogan.
Ankara reacted to the far-right demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, which included anti-Islamic scenes.
ISTANBUL, January 23 (Sputnik) - Stockholm should not expect Ankara's support for Sweden's entry into NATO after anti-Turkish and anti-Islamic actions, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday (23).
On Saturday, Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right political party Stram Kurs, burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm after receiving permission from the authorities. The Turkish Foreign Ministry condemned the act, calling it a "vile attack" on the holy book and "another example of the alarming level that Islamophobia and racist and discriminatory movements have reached in Europe." The burning of the Quran was also condemned by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
"If you allow such actions, don't be offended, but you will not receive our support on the issue of joining NATO. The Swedish leadership should not expect our support," Erdogan said in his address to the nation after the cabinet meeting on Monday.
He emphasized that those who create such "heresy," as well as those who allow such actions, must answer for their deeds.
On May 18th of last year, in the context of events in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden submitted a request for NATO membership to the alliance's Secretary-General. Initially, Ankara blocked the start of consideration of these requests, but on June 29th, Turkey, Sweden, and Finland signed a trilateral security memorandum that takes into account all of Ankara's concerns. Turkey withdrew its objections to the two countries' accession to NATO. As of October 6th, 28 of NATO's 30 member states had already made a positive decision regarding the admission of northern countries to the alliance, with the exception of Turkey and Hungary.
On Saturday, Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Paludan's action was a clear violation of the obligation under the tripartite memorandum, which Sweden signed, to prevent propaganda from terrorist organizations.
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