Presidential Spokesperson İbrahim Kalın confirmed that Sweden’s possibility of joining NATO has not completely disappeared and that this will depend on the steps to be taken by Stockholm.
Kalin explained that the approval of Finland’s membership in NATO is a result of Finland’s response to Turkey’s demands to fight terrorist organizations and limit the activities of PKK supporters in its territory.
In an interview with a local Turkish channel on Sunday evening, Kalın stated that Turkey supported and still supports the idea of NATO enlargement.
In another context, specifically regarding Turkey’s purchase of F16 warplanes from the United States, Kalın said: “Of course we want to buy these warplanes and update what we have, but if we can’t reach a final agreement on the deal,” Kalin said. “We have alternatives.”
About his recent meetings with some members of the US Congress, he said: “I told them you made a logical error by linking the F16 fighter planes issue to Sweden’s NATO membership. With this step, you are dragging the dialogue to a dead end.”
It is noteworthy that US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken emphasized that Turkey should acquire modernized F16 warplanes while attending a session of the US House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee last Thursday.
