Swedish premier says new terror law to be implemented before next summer

STOCKHOLM, Sweden

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Tuesday that his country will start implementing a new terror law that will take effect before next summer.

Referring to a recent meeting of the joint mechanism held in Stockholm within the scope of the Tripartite Memorandum signed by Türkiye, Finland and Sweden at a NATO Madrid Summit on June 28, he said: “The Turkish side has openly expressed their satisfaction for the first time,” when interviewed by state-run news agency, TT.

Also touching on the new terror law, Kristersson said, "The implementation of the terror law, which will be introduced at the beginning of this year and prevents participation in terrorist organizations, will begin before summer. Sweden continues to comply with the agreement with Türkiye." he said.

Sweden and Finland formally applied to join NATO in May, abandoning decades of military non-alignment, a decision spurred by Russia's war against Ukraine.

But Türkiye -- a NATO member for more than 70 years -- voiced objections to their membership bids, accusing the two countries of tolerating and even supporting terror groups.

Türkiye and the two Nordic countries signed a memorandum in June at the NATO summit to address Ankara's legitimate security concerns, paving the way for their eventual membership in the alliance.

Under the memorandum, Finland and Sweden extend their full support to Türkiye countering threats to its national security. To that effect, Helsinki and Stockholm are not to provide support to the YPG/PYD terror group or the Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO) -- the group behind the defeated 2016 coup in Türkiye.

In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the US, and EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot.

Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, have warned that Türkiye will not give the nod to the membership of Sweden and Finland until the memorandum is implemented.

Unanimous consent from all 30 existing allied countries is required for a country to join NATO.

*Writing by Ahmet Gencturk in Ankara