Erdogan signals Turkey is not ready to ratify Sweden Nato membership

Turkey has delayed giving its final approval to Sweden’s membership in the military alliance, accusing the country of being too lenient toward anti-Islamic demonstrations and groups that Ankara regards as security threats

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson (Burhan Ozbilici/AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signalled that his country is not ready to ratify Sweden’s membership of Nato, saying Stockholm had to work harder on the “homework” it needs to complete.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Mr Erdogan also renewed his condemnation of a Koran-burning protest that took place in Sweden last week, describing the action as a hate crime against Muslims.