Turkey to seek extraditions from Finland, Sweden under NATO deal Turkey’s justice minister says Ankara is seeking extradition of 12 suspects from Finland, 21 from Sweden: State media. Al Jazeera · Jun 29, 2022
EXPLAINER: How was Turkey’s veto of Nordic NATO bid avoided? When the leaders of Finland, Sweden and Turkey met with NATO’s chief this week, some remained pessimistic the meeting would lessen Turkey’s objections to the Nordic pair’s historic request to join NATO The Independent UK · Jun 29, 2022
Last minute Nordic-Turkey deal took weeks of wrangling, and a U.S. nudge An 11th hour deal that paved the way for NATO hopefuls Sweden and Finland to soon become members was the result of weeks of political wrestling across European capitals and calibrated U.S. involvement. But moments before a deal was struck, it still looked like it was going nowhere. Reuters · Jun 29, 2022
Turkey says it will renew extradition requests to Finland, Sweden after NATO deal Turkey will renew a request for Sweden and Finland to extradite individuals it considers terrorists after the countries reached a deal over the Nordic nations' NATO membership bids, Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Wednesday. Reuters · Jun 29, 2022
Why did Turkey lift its veto on Finland and Sweden joining NATO? Ankara has signed a trilateral memorandum agreement after obtaining concessions on demands it put forward in May. Al Jazeera · Jun 29, 2022
Turkish media hails Erdogan's 'victory' deal to lift NATO veto Pro-government Turkish media lauded a deal to allow Finland and Sweden to join NATO as a triumph for President Tayyip Erdogan, saying on Wednesday he had wrested concrete gains from the West in the country's fight against terrorism. Reuters · Jun 29, 2022
Turkish objections to NATO expansion find Hill skepticism WASHINGTON — Lawmakers in both parties are signaling that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan should not expect them to sweeten the pot as he seeks concessions in return for dropping his objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO. Tribune News Service · Jun 28, 2022
Turkish objections to NATO expansion find Hill skepticism - Roll Call U.S. lawmakers say they won't sweeten the pot with things like more weapon systems to convince Turkish officials to allow NATO expansion. Roll Call · Jun 28, 2022
Sweden’s Kurds Fear They May Pay Price for NATO Bid as Turkey Fumes Kurds in Sweden's large diaspora are worried they will become a pawn in the negotiations over Stockholm's ambition to join NATO if the West makes concessions to win Turkish support. Sweden, along with Finland, applied for NATO membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with their bids warmly welcomed… Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 28, 2022
Sweden's Kurds fear they may pay price for NATO bid as Turkey fumes Kurds in Sweden's large diaspora are worried they will become a pawn in the negotiations over Stockholm's ambition to join NATO if the West makes concessions to win Turkish support. Reuters · Jun 28, 2022
NATO to boost rapid reaction force, Ukraine military support NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg says the military alliance wants to increase the size of its rapid reaction forces from the current 40,000 to over 300,000 The Independent UK · Jun 27, 2022
UK offers expertise in escort of Ukraine grain to avert starvation in Africa Liz Truss and Turkish foreign minister meet to discuss safe passage for convoy under UN plan The Guardian - UK · Jun 23, 2022
With an eye on re-election, Turkey’s Erdogan risks the ire of Western partners Between stalling Sweden and Finland’s bids for NATO membership and threatening a fresh military offensive against Kurds in northern Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seems to be capitalising on the world’s focus on Ukraine to strengthen Ankara’s geopolitical standing – even at the expense of NATO and Western partners.… France 24 · Jun 22, 2022
Four Killed in Turkish Drone Strike against PKK Members in Iraq A Turkish drone strike on Friday killed four Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants and injured one in Iraq's northern province of Sulaimaniya, Iraqi Kurdistan's counter-terrorism service said. The five people were driving their vehicle in the town of Kalar at around 6 a.m. Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 17, 2022
France 24 · Jun 16, 2022 As Ukraine crisis rages, Erdogan trains his sights on Kurdish northern Syria With international attention focused on the war in Ukraine, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to be in a good geopolitical position to launch a new military operation against the Kurds in northern Syria. Despite US warnings, Erdogan has threatened an offensive on two strategic Syrian towns near Turkey’s southern…
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 15, 2022 Two Dead, Seven Injured in Turkish Air Strikes Hitting YBS Site in Iraq At least two people were killed and seven injured in Turkish air strikes targeting the Sinjar Resistance Units (YBS), a militia affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in Iraq's northern province of Sinjar, security sources said on Wednesday. They said one strike targeted an intelligence headquarters and another hit…
The Independent UK · Jun 14, 2022 Former Kurdish rebel has key role in Sweden's NATO bid A former Kurdish rebel fighter turned Swedish lawmaker has emerged as a central figure in the drama surrounding Sweden and Finland’s historic bid to join NATO
The Guardian - UK · Jun 14, 2022 Turkey threatens year’s delay to Swedish and Finnish entry to Nato Issue may derail alliance summit as Ankara digs in on accusation that Nordic countries harbour terrorists
The Independent UK · Jun 7, 2022 Swedish government survives key vote amid troubled NATO bid Sweden’s justice minister has narrowly survived a no confidence vote in parliament over surging crime
The Independent UK · Jun 7, 2022 US-backed Syrian Kurds to turn to Damascus if Turkey attacks The U.S.-backed and Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria say they will turn to the government in Damascus for support should Turkey go ahead with its threat to launch a new incursion into the war-torn country
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 4, 2022 Madrid Summit Not a Deadline for Decision on Finland and Sweden’s NATO Bids, Says Turkey A NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June is not a deadline for a decision on Sweden and Finland's membership bids, which are opposed by Turkey, the Turkish president's spokesman said on Saturday. Sweden and Finland applied to join the Western defense alliance last month in response to…
Reuters · Jun 4, 2022 Madrid summit not a deadline for decision on Finland and Sweden's NATO bids, says Turkey A NATO summit in Madrid at the end of June is not a deadline for a decision on Sweden and Finland's membership bids, which are opposed by Turkey, the Turkish president's spokesman said on Saturday.
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 4, 2022 Greece's Ambassador to Turkey Summoned over PKK Concerns Greece's ambassador to Turkey was summoned to the Foreign Ministry over concerns about the activities of the outlawed Kurdish Workers' Party in his country, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency. Turkish officials complained to Ambassador Christodoulos Lazaris about the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, carrying out propaganda, financing and…
The Independent UK · Jun 4, 2022 Greece's ambassador to Turkey summoned over PKK concerns Turkey's state-run Anadolu new agency says Greece’s ambassador to Turkey has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry over concerns about the activities of the outlawed Kurdish Workers’ Party in his country
Asharq Al-Awsat · Jun 4, 2022 Turkey Stresses it Won’t ‘Remain Silent’ over Attacks from Syria Turkey informed the United States it is committed to taking necessary measures against “terrorist organizations” threatening its national security, and that it will not tolerate the escalation of attacks against Turkish territory from the areas controlled by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in northern Syria.