Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of ‘being in hostile actions’ against Turkey right after French leader received a Kurdish delegation from Northern Syria. Erdoğan has also sent a veiled threat to Macron about the returning jihadis from Syria to France.
Turkey has problems on multiple fronts with European Union member countries. While Ankara has no ambassador in the Netherlands, the relations with neighboring Greece took a turn for worse after two Greek soldiers were arrested when they accidentally entered Turkey.
After receiving Kurdish representatives of YPG at the Elysee, Macron announced he promised the Kurds to work for stability in Northern Syria. He also proposed to mediate between Turkey and Syrian Democratic Forces, which drew ire of the Turkish President.
Speaking in Ankara, Erdoğan lashed out at Macron warning him that he crossed a red line. Erdoğan’s harsh rhetoric was followed by the Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and the deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdağ both strongly condemning France.
During his speech to AKP members, Erdoğan also sent a veiled threat to France about the returning jihadis. He said France should be ready to account for the problems that will arise from the ‘returning professional terrorists’. ‘Encouraged by France’s actions, when terrorists get back to France, I hope the French will not try to seek our help’ Erdoğan said.
