Turkey’s Erdogan Talks to Swedish, Finnish Leaders on NATO

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan holds a news conference during the NATO summit at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2021. (Reuters)
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan holds a news conference during the NATO summit at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2021. (Reuters)
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Turkey’s Erdogan Talks to Swedish, Finnish Leaders on NATO

Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan holds a news conference during the NATO summit at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2021. (Reuters)
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan holds a news conference during the NATO summit at the Alliance's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 14, 2021. (Reuters)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday discussed his objections to Sweden and Finland joining NATO with the two Nordic countries’ leaders, Erdogan’s office said.

He spoke to Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson in separate calls to address Ankara’s concerns about those it considers terrorists in their countries, the presidential communications office said in a statement.

It said Erdogan called upon Sweden to lift defensive weapons export restrictions it imposed on Turkey over Turkey's 2019 incursion into northern Syria. Erdogan also said he expected Stockholm to take "concrete and serious steps" against the Kurdish Workers’ Party, or PKK, and other groups that Turkey views as terrorists.

He told Niinisto "that an understanding that ignores terrorist organizations that pose a threat to an ally within NATO is incompatible with the spirit of friendship and alliance," the statement added.

In another call, the Turkish president also raised Turkey's concerns with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has said he would listen to Turkey's concerns on the matter.

On Thursday, Niinisto and Andersson visited Washington, where they spoke with US President Joe Biden about their bids to join NATO in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

While other NATO nation appear welcoming to have Finland and Sweden join, Turkey has raised objections to their accession, principally over the presence of alleged terrorists in their countries and the block on arms sales.



China Says Iran's Foreign Minister Will Visit on Wednesday

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, 18 April 2025. EPA/TATYANA MAKEYEVA / POOL
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, 18 April 2025. EPA/TATYANA MAKEYEVA / POOL
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China Says Iran's Foreign Minister Will Visit on Wednesday

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, 18 April 2025. EPA/TATYANA MAKEYEVA / POOL
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi attends a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia, 18 April 2025. EPA/TATYANA MAKEYEVA / POOL

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi will visit China on April 23 at the invitation of China, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Tuesday.

The two sides will discuss bilateral relations and international and regional hot-spot issues of common concern, ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular press conference.

The visit is believed to have great significance for deepening political mutual trust between the two countries, Guo told reporters.

The announcement came after the Iranian foreign ministry said on Monday that its top diplomat will visit China on Tuesday, ahead of a third round of nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington due on Saturday in Oman.

In a trip to Moscow last week, Araghchi told state TV that Tehran always closely consults with its friends, Russia and China, over nuclear issues.