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Source: Dubai – Arabia.net
Although Greece denied, on Thursday, negotiations with Ankara to reduce the escalation in the eastern Mediterranean, the latter also confirmed that it does not plan maneuvers and exercises in that region with Russia.
The Turkish Defense Ministry also denied having participated in military exercises with Russia in the eastern Mediterranean.
It is noteworthy that the tension had intensified some time ago between Turkey and France, when Paris denounced the escalation practiced by Turkey in the eastern Mediterranean, linking “dialogue” with “de-escalation”.
The Minister of the Armed Forces, Florence Parly, considered that the current tensions over gas exploration in the Mediterranean are linked to “Turkey’s behavior, which is an escalation.”
New military training
A few days ago, Turkey started new military exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, amid tensions with Greece over access to gas reserves in this region.
Mediterranean maneuvers
Parli also considered that “Turkey opposes the existence of exclusive economic zones, and questions the sovereignty of two member states of the European Union, Greece and Cyprus, and may endanger a fundamental right, which is freedom of navigation.”
In addition, Germany initiated mediation between Greece and Turkey, both members of NATO, but Ankara has shown its willingness to carry out a dialogue only if Athens does not establish any “preconditions”.
The French minister stressed that “for the sake of dialogue, the escalation must stop.”
“There is a right to navigation in the waters of the Mediterranean, and energy and gas resources cannot be seized, especially if they are recognized in accordance with international agreements,” he added.
Turkish maneuvers in the Mediterranean
France twice held joint military exercises with Greece and Cyprus in August, drawing strong criticism from Ankara.
Natural place
Parly said that “the approach of France is not an escalation in any way. What we did is what we do regularly, that is, we sail regularly in the Mediterranean, it is a natural place for our country.”
Barley florence
This came after French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that he had taken a strict stance this summer on Turkey’s actions in the eastern Mediterranean with the aim of marking red lines, because Ankara respects the actions. , not the words, in your opinion.
Tensions have escalated between Turkey and France in recent months with Paris’s support for Greece, which is locked in a confrontation with Turkey over rights to exploit potential oil and gas deposits in the region.
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