Erdogan links Sweden's NATO membership to Turkey's EU accession

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a press conference, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured), in Istanbul, Turkey, July 8, 2023. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, in an unexpected move, said on Monday the European Union should open the way for Ankara's accession to the bloc before Turkey's parliament approves Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance.

Turkey's bid to join the EU has been frozen for years after membership talks were launched in 2005 under Erdogan's first term as prime minister.