Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on July 20 that almost all of the Nordic countries are "nests of terrorism" and repeated his threat to block Finland's and Sweden's bids for NATO membership if they do not fulfill their pledges to fight terrorism.
Speaking to reporters on a flight from Tehran, Erdogan said that almost all Nordic countries, including Norway, had become "nests of terrorism", adding that NATO allies Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy and the UK also allow groups that Turkey considers terrorist organizations to operate freely.
Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but faced opposition from Turkey, which accused the countries of supporting groups it considers terrorists.
Last month, the three countries signed an agreement to lift Ankara's veto in exchange for promises to fight terrorism and arms exports.
Asked about the extradition of what Turkey calls Kurdish extremists in Sweden and Finland, Erdogan said on July 1 that if the Nordic countries did not send the individuals, "then we will do what is necessary through our institutions."
Turkey is seeking the extradition of 33 Kurdish, as it qualifies, "extremists", mostly from Sweden.
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