Erdogan warned Sweden to join NATO after the Koran was burned at the rally

ISTANBUL (AFP-Jiji) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Sweden on Monday not to expect its support for NATO membership after a Koran was burned outside Ankara’s embassy in Stockholm.

Erdogan’s angry comments further distanced the prospect of Sweden and Finland joining the Western defense alliance ahead of Turkey’s presidential and parliamentary elections in May.

Turkey and Hungary are the only NATO members that have not ratified the northern neighbors’ historic decision to break with the tradition of military unification in response to Russia’s intervention in Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has promised that his parliament will approve the two proposals next month. But Erdogan is headed for a close election in which he is trying to strengthen his nationalist base.

Sweden should not expect us to support NATO, Erdogan said in his first official response to the anti-Islam politician’s actions during Saturday’s protest by Swedish police despite Turkish protests.

It is clear that those who caused such shame in front of our country’s embassy can no longer expect any kindness from us regarding their application for membership in NATO,” said Erdogan.

Sweden reacted to Erdogan’s words with extreme caution.

I cannot comment on tonight’s statement. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom told Sweden’s TT news agency that I want to understand exactly what was said first.

Swedish leaders strongly condemned the actions of far-right politician Rasmus Paludans, but defended their country’s broad definition of freedom of speech.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson tweeted on Saturday that I want to express my sympathies to all Muslims who are offended by what happened in Stockholm today.

Erdogan has already imposed a series of tough conditions on Sweden, demanding the extradition of dozens of mostly Kurdish suspects whom Ankara accuses of either terrorism or involvement in a failed coup in 2016.

The meeting of the Swedes with Turkey was progressing with many visits of high-level ministers to Ankara.

Stockholm has also approved a constitutional amendment that would allow tougher anti-terror laws to be passed, as demanded by Ankara.

But things took a turn for the worse after a small Kurdish group hung a statue of Erdogan outside Stockholm’s city hall earlier this month.

Turkey summoned the Swedish ambassador and canceled the invitation of the speaker of the parliament to Ankara.

The Swedish police acquiescing to the Paludans protests caused a similar reaction.

Turkey called the Stockholm ambassador to wear another outfit and canceled the planned visit of the Swedish defense minister.