Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Prague on Thursday to advocate for Finland’s accession to NATO while signaling a reservations-heavy stance toward Sweden. In the Czech capital, where he attended the first meeting of the European Political Community, Erdogan described Turkey’s ties with Finland as distinct and more constructive than those with Sweden.
He stated that Finland is not a haven for terrorism and affirmed that Ankara is prepared to do everything possible to advance Finland’s path into the Atlantic Alliance. The declaration followed years of Turkish concerns about which parties and groups might be sheltered or supported elsewhere, a touchstone in negotiations over NATO enlargement.
Historically, Turkey has blocked both Finland and Sweden from joining NATO, arguing that they provide sanctuary to groups Turkey deems terrorist organizations. That stance shifted at the Madrid summit, where concessions were granted under certain conditions, including the extradition of individuals Turkish authorities wanted to see handed over. Erdogan noted that the Turkish Parliament would approve the entry of the two northern applicants only after verification that they meet the specified requirements.
In contrast to his stance on Finland, Erdogan remained hesitant about Sweden. He warned that as long as terrorist organizations continue their activities in Sweden or as long as they are represented within the Swedish Parliament, Turkey’s position toward Sweden would stay negative and unchanged.
During the Prague gathering, Erdogan acknowledged tensions with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a dinner with regional leaders. He described a sharp exchange, saying Mitsotakis was upset after remarks made during the evening, and he refrained from detailing the two leaders’ speeches. He also claimed that Greece has repeatedly misrepresented his statements and insisted that there is no current need for further meetings with Greece.
The Turkish president emphasized that Greece and Turkey, though neighbors and NATO members, have a long history of friction that has lately included disputes over airspace and territorial waters in the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean regions. He noted several discussions in Prague with leaders from different countries and highlighted constructive meetings as proof of the European Political Community’s timely relevance, mentioning discussions with Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, among others.
While Erdogan praised the EPC as a valuable forum, he clarified that it is not a substitute for EU enlargement. He underscored a hope that the platform might help Turkey advance its relationship with the European Union as a whole, even as he described Turkey’s ongoing pursuit of broader EU integration as a separate goal.
Germany, France, and other European partners were cited as participants in the broader dialogue, with Erdogan characterizing the Prague event as a venue for practical engagement rather than a replacement for formal enlargement processes. Observers note that discussions in Prague touched on a range of security and regional policy issues, reflecting Turkey’s intent to balance its NATO commitments with its own strategic priorities in Europe and the broader neighborhood. [citation]