<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday confirmed Turkey's opposition to NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, again accusing them of failing to take a clear stance against terrorism.</p>.<p>"We will not say 'yes' to those (countries) who apply sanctions to Turkey to join security organisation NATO," Erdogan said.</p>.<p>Sweden has suspended any arms sales to Turkey since 2019 over Ankara's military operation in neighbouring Syria.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/sweden-enters-new-era-with-nato-bid-1109814.html">Sweden enters 'new era' with NATO bid</a></strong></p>.<p>Referring to the Swedish and Finnish delegations' intentions to meet with Turkish officials, Erdogan said: "They say they will come to Turkey on Monday. Will they come to persuade us? Excuse us, but they shouldn't bother."</p>.<p>The two Nordic countries have officially announced their intention to apply for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.</p>.<p>But Turkey has threatened to block the alliance's expansion, accusing them of harbouring terror groups including outlawed Kurdish militants, blacklisted by Ankara, the EU and the United States.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/five-things-to-know-about-finland-and-sweden-joining-nato-1109476.html" target="_blank">Five things to know about Finland and Sweden joining NATO</a></strong></p>.<p>Any membership bid must be unanimously approved by NATO's 30 members.</p>.<p>"Neither of the countries have a clear stance against terror organisations," Erdogan said.</p>.<p>Sweden and Finland have failed to respond positively to Turkey's 33 extradition requests over the past five years, justice ministry sources told the official Anadolu news agency on Monday.</p>.<p>Turkey has rebuked Stockholm especially for showing what it describes as leniency towards the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.</p>
<p>President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday confirmed Turkey's opposition to NATO membership for Finland and Sweden, again accusing them of failing to take a clear stance against terrorism.</p>.<p>"We will not say 'yes' to those (countries) who apply sanctions to Turkey to join security organisation NATO," Erdogan said.</p>.<p>Sweden has suspended any arms sales to Turkey since 2019 over Ankara's military operation in neighbouring Syria.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/sweden-enters-new-era-with-nato-bid-1109814.html">Sweden enters 'new era' with NATO bid</a></strong></p>.<p>Referring to the Swedish and Finnish delegations' intentions to meet with Turkish officials, Erdogan said: "They say they will come to Turkey on Monday. Will they come to persuade us? Excuse us, but they shouldn't bother."</p>.<p>The two Nordic countries have officially announced their intention to apply for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.</p>.<p>But Turkey has threatened to block the alliance's expansion, accusing them of harbouring terror groups including outlawed Kurdish militants, blacklisted by Ankara, the EU and the United States.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read — <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/five-things-to-know-about-finland-and-sweden-joining-nato-1109476.html" target="_blank">Five things to know about Finland and Sweden joining NATO</a></strong></p>.<p>Any membership bid must be unanimously approved by NATO's 30 members.</p>.<p>"Neither of the countries have a clear stance against terror organisations," Erdogan said.</p>.<p>Sweden and Finland have failed to respond positively to Turkey's 33 extradition requests over the past five years, justice ministry sources told the official Anadolu news agency on Monday.</p>.<p>Turkey has rebuked Stockholm especially for showing what it describes as leniency towards the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged a bloody insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984.</p>