Türkiye says NATO recorded PKK/PYD/YPG, FETO as terror groups for 1st timeISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE - JULY 1: As a result of Türkiye's efforts in Madrid, PKK/PYD/YPG and FETO were written off as terror groups in NATO's records for the first time, said the Turk

ISTANBUL, TÜRKİYE - JULY 1: As a result of Türkiye's efforts in Madrid, PKK/PYD/YPG and FETO were written off as terror groups in NATO's records for the first time, said the Turkish president on Friday (July 1). Speaking to reporters after Friday prayer in Istanbul Recep Tayyip Erdogan said “The fact that apart from the PKK, the PYD, YPG and FETO have included as terrorist organizations in the written text and in a memorandum of understanding of a NATO agreement. This is the best expression of how successfully we came out of this process.” Sweden and Finland formally applied to join the alliance last month, a decision spurred by Russia's war on Ukraine. But Türkiye, a longstanding member of the alliance, voiced objections to the membership bids, criticizing the countries for tolerating and even supporting terrorist groups. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has repeatedly said that Türkiye has "legitimate concerns related to their fight against the PKK terrorist group and other organizations," and that the PKK is considered a terror organization by NATO, the EU, as well as Finland and Sweden. In its more than 35-year terror campaign against Türkiye, the PKK has been responsible for the deaths of more than 40,000 people, including women, children and infants. The YPG is its Syrian offshoot. FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016 in Türkiye, in which 251 people were killed and 2,734 injured. (Footage by Cemaleddin Turan /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)