Saturday August 29, 2020

    France this week joined military exercises with Italy, Greece and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean as the dispute between Turkey and Greece escalated after Ankara sent its Oruc Reis survey vessel to disputed waters this month, a move Athens has called illegal.

Macron said he had been firm, but restrained.

"It was proportionate. We didn’t send an armada,” he said.

           Macron has repeatedly demanded further EU sanctions against Turkey and the two NATO allies almost came to blows in June after a French warship attempted to inspect a Turkish vessel as part of a U.N. arms embargo for Libya.

              "I don’t consider that in recent years Turkey’s strategy is the strategy of a NATO ally ... when you have a country which attacks the exclusive economic zones or the sovereignty of two members of the European Union,” he said, describing Turkey’s actions as provocations.

"What would our credibility be in handling Belarus if we did not react to attacks on the sovereignty of our own members?”

              Germany has sought a less confrontational approach, attempting to mediate between Ankara and Athens.

On Tuesday their respective foreign ministers said they wanted to solve the matter through dialogue following talks with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. However, each warned that they would continue to defend their rights in the region.

           "Germany and other partners are beginning to agree with us that Turkey’s agenda is problematic today,” Macron said. "When six months ago people were saying France is the only one blaming Turkey for things, everyone now sees that there is a problem.”