"It is not right that Finland and Sweden are wasting NATO's time at this critical moment," Erdogan adviser Fahrettin Altun was cited as saying. He emphasized that so far the Scandinavian countries have offered only empty words without action in the face of legitimate Turkish demands and concerns.

"Before this application, they may have thought, 'Turkey will be convinced anyway' or 'Turkey will not object'. However... Turkey will protect its interests at all costs," Altun, who is the Turkish presidency's head of media and communications, said.

Erdogan and top officials have demanded that Finland and Sweden halt their embracing of dissident Kurdish groups including the outlawed PKK. Statements from Ankara have gone so far as to demand that PKK rallies in these countries be banned, requiring a change in local laws.