Turkey calls on next Swedish government to take counter-terrorism steps needed for NATO membership

FILE PHOTO: NATO and Turkish flags are seen in this illustration taken May 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

ANKARA (Reuters) - The new Swedish government should now address security concerns that Turkey has raised in return for lifting its veto on Sweden and Finland's membership of NATO, Turkey's foreign minister said on Wednesday.

The two countries applied to join the security alliance in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, but faced opposition from Turkey which accuses them of imposing arms embargoes on Ankara and supporting groups it deems terrorists.