Turkey’s president has taken aim at France’s leader, following French criticism about Turkish maritime activities in the eastern Mediterranean that have ignited tensions with Greece and the European Union.
In a speech Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron was targeting him.
“You will have many more problems with me,” Erdogan said, adding, “don’t mess with the Turkish nation and Turkey.”
On Friday, Marcon said that Europe needed to be “clear and firm” with Erdogan’s government over its actions.
France and Turkey, both NATO members, have been at odds over an arms embargo for Libya and over the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, where Paris is supporting Greece and Cyprus, who say Turkey is looking for oil and gas in their waters. Turkey says it has equal rights to the resources in those waters.
Meanwhile, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said during a speech on Friday night at the Infantry Brigade training center that “In order for the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean to decline, it is enough for some people to be silent. They do not need to do anything. Just shut up.”
“Those who enter into conspiracies against Turkey as they have done in the past will suffer the same damage as they did in the past.”
He then advised Greece to remain silent “so as not to become a meze [snack] for the interests of others.”
Akar noted that some countries that are not related to the Eastern Mediterranean have become involved in the region, but this will not help achieve peace and stability in any form, in fact it will escalate tension.
Meanwhile, Erdogan spoke over the phone with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, according to Turkey’s Communications Directorate on Friday. Erdogan and Sanchez discussed regional developments and ways to boost bilateral relations.
Erdogan also discussed the updates in the Eastern Mediterranean with Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio.
