Finland's striking statements could burn NATO membership

Finland, which received Türkiye's approval last April, officially became a NATO member. Sweden, on the other hand, was put on hold because it could not distance itself from terrorism. In the first month of NATO membership, a strange statement came from Finland, which had a NATO polemic with Sweden after its accession.

'OUR PRINCIPLES ARE STILL VALID'

Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto, who made a statement to the German newspaper Tagesspiegel, said that Türkiye wanted a lot in the NATO membership process and said "our principles are still valid".

'WE DECIDE WHO WILL RETURN'

Finland, which stopped arms shipments to Türkiye in 2019 after Operation Peace Spring, which targeted terrorist organizations in northern Syria, lifted the embargo after NATO membership.

Answering a question about the lifting of the arms embargo and the extradition processes of terrorists in the country, Haavito said, “We have lifted the embargo, but we decide which weapons to give. The situation is the same for those who sought refuge in our country for terrorism. We have a cooperation with Türkiye, but we decide who will return," he said.

Also touching on Syria, Haavisto said, "We continue to hope for a peaceful solution for the region." He also reminded Türkiye's efforts to return the Finns who were held in ISIS prison camps at that time to their countries.

'WE DO NOT AGREE THAT THE YPG IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION'

“Türkiye hosted the Finns in this process, so we worked in close cooperation on Syria,” the Finnish Minister said, and made a striking statement about the terrorist organization YPG.

Haavisto said the YPG is the NATO partner of the USA and its ally in Syria and said, "We do not share the view that the YPG is a terrorist organization, as Türkiye says."