Turkey blocks talks with Finland, Sweden on NATO membership: Report

Turkey has reportedly blocked talks with Sweden and Finland on joining NATO, reports said.

The report by German media Deutsche Welle(DW) quoted sources saying Erdogan's regime had stopped early talks on Sweden and Finland's bid to join NATO.

President Erdogan had earlier accussed the Nordic countries of harbouring "terrorists" referring to the Kurds. Turkey's president on Wednesday urged the European military alliance to understand the country's "sensitivity".

Finland and Sweden had submitted a joint application to join NATO amid the Russian invasion.

Also Read: We will not say yes, says Erdogan on Sweden & Finland's NATO membership

Erdogan had earlier accussed Sweden of providing safe haven to Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leaders which Turkey has designated as a terrorist organisation. All 30 NATO members need to agree in order to bring a new member into the alliance.

Erdogan said his government had asked Sweden to extradite 30 terrorists but the Swedish government had refused.

Watch: Turkey derails NATO's Nordic expansion

"You will not send back the terrorists to us and then ask our support for your NATO membership, We cannot say 'yes' to make this security organisation being lacking in security," Erodgan said.

Sweden had earlier imposed an embargo on arms sales to Turkey over the Syrian conflict.

The Turkish leader had in fact said Swedish or Finnish delegations "should not bother" to come for talks in Ankara on joining NATO.

(With inputs from Agencies)

WATCH WION LIVE HERE