France recalibrates Turkey ties as east Med dynamics shift: What to know
After years of strain between France and Turkey, the two countries seem to be seeking rapprochement on regional issues.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan’s April 2 visit to Paris, where he met his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot, marked a milestone in the once strained France-Turkey relationship.
In the low-profile meeting — which took place after several cancellations over the past two years — Fidan and Barrot discussed bilateral ties and regional issues including Syria, Ukraine and potential defense cooperation between Turkey and the European Union, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official told journalists under the condition of customary anonymity.
The meeting followed a phone call between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Emmanuel Macron as part of increasing communication between the two NATO members, which have been at odds on a series of regional issues, particularly the eastern Mediterranean region.
France enjoys close ties with Greece and the Cyprus Republic. Turkey doesn't recognize Greek Cypriot-led Cyprus amid historical territorial disputes with Greece.
