The French Armed Forces Ministry on Thursday announced that it will deploy two Rafale planes and a naval frigate to reinforce its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean due to Turkish exploration operations, Reuters reported.
Earlier in the week, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters in the region, explorations that has led to an escalation of tensions with Greece.
Macron rejected Turkey’s dangerous and unilateral steps, expressing his grave concern about the tensions caused by the unilateral Turkish decision to drill in the eastern Mediterranean region.
A statement by the French presidency said that Paris decided to temporarily reinforce its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean, in accordance with international law.
Macron called for a peaceful dialogue between Turkey, its neighboring countries and NATO partners.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
