Turkey Puts Brakes on Nordic NATO Bids, Citing ‘Act of Provocation’

Turkish President and leader of the Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C) delivers a speech during his party's group meeting at Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara, Turkey, on Dec. 21, 2022. Adem Altan/AFP via Getty Images

Turkey appears to have thrown cold water on a joint bid by Sweden and Finland to become members of the Western NATO alliance.

On Jan. 23, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sweden could “no longer expect” Turkish support for its NATO accession efforts.