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Turkey will approve the membership of Sweden and Finland in NATO when it sees real steps from their side in the fight against terrorism, as stipulated in the memorandum signed in June with the two countries.

This is what Yomer Çelik, spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), told journalists today, Turkish media reported. 

We have seen many Western allies not keeping their word (when it comes to fighting terrorism).

Turkey will approve Sweden and Finland joining NATO when it sees that the steps taken by them to fight terrorism are real and sufficient, Celik said.

We support NATO expansion, he added.  

Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Joining the alliance requires the unanimous support of all current NATO members, including Turkey.

Erdogan: Turkey will not give Sweden a positive opinion on NATO membership

Ankara had threatened to block the process if Finland and Sweden did not meet its demands.

At the NATO summit in Madrid on June 28, the foreign ministers of Turkey, Finland and Sweden signed a memorandum to remove obstacles to the two countries joining NATO. 

NATO membership

Finland and Sweden