ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Ankara observed a positive attitude towards lifting of arms exports embargo during talks with delegations from NATO applicants Finland and Sweden, President Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman said on Wednesday.
In a news conference following the talks, Ibrahim Kalin said Turkey’s terrorism concerns and expectations about concrete steps to address them were conveyed to counterparts.
Finland and Sweden formally applied to join NATO on Wednesday, following Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey surprised NATO allies last week by objecting to the two countries’ membership, saying that they harbour people linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militant group and followers of Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating a 2016 coup attempt.
(Reporting by Ezgi Erkoyun)
