Turkey Calls on Next Swedish Government to Take Steps to Fulfill NATO Deal

Turkey on Wednesday called on the next Swedish government to fulfill Turkey’s demands to join NATO as Ankara is warning the Turkish parliament could still block the nordic nation from entering the alliance.

Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson of the ruling Social Democrats conceded defeat in an election on Wednesday to a coalition of more right-wing parties, which includes the Sweden Democrats, who are considered to be far-right in Swedish politics.

The other parties that make up the coalition are more moderate and considered center-right and include the Moderates, the Christian Democrats, and the Liberals. Out of all of the right-wing parties, the Sweden Democrats received more of the vote, which will give them significant influence over the coalition government that will be formed.

Turkey’s main sticking point with Sweden’s NATO aspirations is over its extradition requests. Ankara wants Stockholm to extradite Kurds who are suspected members of the PKK, a Kurdish militant group Turkey, the EU, and the US consider a terrorist organization.

The current government led by the Social Democrats has been hesitant to fulfill Ankara’s extradition requests, and Sweden’s foreign minister has said negotiations with Turkey on NATO have become “difficult.” But the Sweden Democrats are known for their anti-immigration stance and could be more willing to extradite Kurds to Turkey.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara did not expect Sweden to fulfill Turkey’s demands before the election and called on the next government to take the steps needed to join NATO. “They know this agreement will not be approved by the [Turkish] parliament unless they take [steps],” he said, according to Reuters.