Sweden and Finland are required to send as many as 130 “terrorists”, to Turkey, in order to become NATO members

ANKARA, (Reuters) – The Turkish parliament must approve their applications to NATO membership before Sweden and Finland can deport or exonerate up to 130 “terrorists,” President Tayyip Erdan stated.

Following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, the two Nordic countries applied to NATO last year. However, all 30 members must approve their bids.

Turkey said that Sweden must take a stronger stance against terrorists, particularly Kurdish militants. This group is responsible for the 2016 coup attempt.

Erdogan spoke late Sunday to refer to the joint press conference that he had with Ulf Kristersson, the Swedish Prime Minister, and said, “We said, so if your terrorists don’t give over to us, then we can’t pass (approval for the NATO application) through parliament anyway.”

Erdogan stated that “for this to pass the parliament you first have to hand over more than 100 terrorists, approximately 130 of them to us,”

In June 2022, Sweden and Finland agreed to a three-way deal with Turkey. This agreement was intended to overcome Turkey’s objections.

In that agreement, the Nordic countries promised to address Turkey’s “pending removal or extradition requests for terror suspects expeditiously und thoroughly”, taking into consideration Turkish intelligence and following all European law.

Erdogan’s spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin claimed that Turkey was short of time to ratify the bids prior to the May presidential and parliamentary election.

Sweden’s Kristersson stated Monday that his country is in a “good place” to secure Turkey’s ratification.

(Reporting from Ece Toksabay. Editing by Jonathan Spicer.