Turkey's concerns over Sweden-Finland are logical: NATO Secretary General

Following Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, Finland and Sweden have begun pushing for a move away from a long-standing alliance neutrality and joining NATO. However, Turkey strongly objected to their joining. Jens Stoltenberg, secretary general of the military alliance, said Turkey's concerns about the two countries' accession to NATO were legitimate.

Stoltenberg made the remarks at a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Finland on Sunday (June 12).

Stoltenberg said Turkey's tensions with Sweden and Finland needs to be resolved quickly in order to join the NATO alliance. We have to sit down to discuss this.

He said Turkey was concerned about terrorism and arms exports. We must remember that no member of the NATO alliance has been the victim of as many terrorist attacks as Turkey.

Ankara says Sweden and Finland have provided arms, money and shelter to various terrorist groups, including the PKK in Turkey. No country sponsoring terrorism can become a member of the NATO alliance.

Sweden and Finland's membership in the NATO alliance is uncertain in the face of Turkish opposition. Because in order for a country to become a member of NATO, all the members of the alliance have to agree.