Western Countries Pressure Turkey to Admit Sweden Into NATO

Western countries have been increasing pressure on Turkey to admit Sweden to NATO after it made its bid in 2022, but Ankara wants concessions before it even considers the Scandinavian nation. Potential candidates for membership in NATO must be approved by all current members. The government of Turkey said it would oppose Stockholm’s entry into the alliance until it cracks down on members of Kurdish militant groups residing in Sweden. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused the Swedish government of not fulfilling its part of last year’s deal meant to calm Ankara’s security concerns. Sweden’s move to join NATO following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a historic shift from over two centuries of declared neutrality from armed conflict....