Erdogan tells France not to ‘mess with Turkey’ in Mediterranean feud

The Turkish leader slammed Macron over his criticism of Ankara’s maritime activities in the eastern Mediterranean

Earlier, the French president condemned Turkey for drilling hydrocarbon in waters claimed by Greece and Cyprus

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Warships from Greece, Italy, Cyprus and France participate in a joint military exercise in the eastern Mediterranean sea. Photo: AP

Published: 11:51pm, 12 Sep 2020Updated: 11:53pm, 12 Sep 2020

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron “not to mess” with Turkey, as tensions between the Nato allies escalate.

“Don’t mess with the Turkish people. Don’t mess with Turkey,” Erdogan said during a televised speech in Istanbul on the 40th anniversary of the 1980 military coup.

Macron has strongly condemned Ankara during a stand-off between Greece and Cyprus on one side and Turkey on the other over hydrocarbon resources and naval influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan urged Greece to “stay away from wrong” actions backed by countries like France in the disputed waters, after rival naval exercises by Athens and Ankara in the region last month saw Paris step up its military presence in the region.

Macron on Thursday said Europeans must be “clear and firm with, not Turkey as a nation and people, but with the government of President Erdogan which has taken unacceptable actions.”

The French leader was speaking before the summit of the EU’s seven Mediterranean nations, which threatened Turkey with sanctions over its activities.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron. Photo: AP