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© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Banners displaying the NATO emblem are positioned on the entrance of latest NATO headquarters in the course of the transfer to the brand new constructing, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s new authorities will distance itself from the Kurdish YPG militia because it tries to win Turkey’s approval to hitch NATO, Sweden’s international minister instructed Swedish Radio on Saturday.
The Syrian Kurdish YPG militia and its political department PYD are thought of by Turkey extensions of the Kurdistan Staff Get together (PKK), which launched an insurgency towards Turkey in 1980 and is considered a terrorist group by Turkey, the USA and the European Union.
Sweden, together with the USA and a number of other different NATO nations, has supported the YPG within the combat towards Islamic State.
Nevertheless, Turkey has vowed to dam Sweden’s software to hitch NATO if it does not cease supporting the militia group.
“There may be too shut a connection between these organizations and the PKK … for it to be good for the connection between us and Turkey,” Swedish Overseas Minister Tobias Billstrom instructed public service broadcaster Swedish Radio.
“The first goal is Sweden’s membership in NATO,” he mentioned.
The transfer comes simply days earlier than Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson is because of journey to Ankara to attempt to persuade Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan to let Sweden be a part of the navy alliance.
Sweden and Finland utilized to hitch NATO earlier this 12 months as a direct consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The appliance has been permitted by 28 of NATO’s 30 nations. The Nordic nations mentioned this week they have been optimistic Hungary would additionally drop its objections.
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