ANKARA (Reuters). – A Turkish president’s chief advisor told the United States that Turkey wants “concrete measures” to determine the existence of “terrorist organizations” in Finland or Sweden, before considering their NATO applications.

According to a Turkish presidential statement, Jake Sullivan (U.S. National Security Advisor) and Ibrahim Kalin (chief Foreign Policy adviser to President Tayyip Turkey), spoke Monday to talk about NATO bids as well as the war in Ukraine.

Turkey objects to two countries being part of the Western Defence Alliance on grounds they harbour terrorists. In particular, Finland and Sweden stopped arm exports to Turkey in 2019 and the Kurdistan Workers Party(PKK) militant group.

The Turkish presidency stated that Kalin told Sullivan by phone that countries who want to join NATO should “internalise NATO’s values, principles and security counter-terrorism.”

It stated that “It is crucial for Sweden and Finland that they take concrete steps in regard to the terrorist organizations that threaten Turkey’s national security,”

Plans to expand NATO must be approved by all 30 NATO member countries.

Sweden and Finland condemned terrorist acts and were open to dialog.