Turkey and France may be allies under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sworn to defend each other if any one comes under attack, but of late the two have been on opposite sides of the spectrum in geopolitical battles.
In the latest deterioration of relations, France has recalled its ambassador to Turkey after Turkish President Recep Erdogan made an insulting comment about French President Emmanuel Macron, questioning his mental health and his country’s treatment of Muslims.
In the shocking comments, which Erdogan made in a televised address, he commented on France’s allegedly anti-Muslim policies. A heated debate had ensued in French society after Macron said Islam was “in crisis” and called for greater strengthening of secular values in France. Last week, a French teacher was beheaded in a terrorist attack; murdered because he allegedly showed a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad in his class. Macron had since vowed that the country would “not give up our cartoons”.
Commenting on this, Erdogan said, “What can one say about a head of state who treats millions of members from different faith groups this way: first of all, have mental checks.”
“What’s the problem of the individual called Macron with Islam and with the Muslims?” he asked, adding, “Macron needs mental treatment.”
The comments are the harshest break yet between the leaders of both sides.
Tensions between the two have been rising since an incident in June between a French frigate and Turkish naval vessels after the French ship tried to inspect a Tanzanian-flagged vessel suspected of smuggling arms to Libya in violation of a UN embargo. France claims three Turkish ships harassed its own vessel and even made signs threatening to fire. The incident saw France suspend its participation in NATO’s Mediterranean mission as it felt the grouping did not give it enough support in the dispute with Turkey.
In addition, France is at odds with Turkey over its role in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia, the Armenian-backed Artsakh Republic and Azerbaijan, with Turkey supporting Azerbaijan. Macron had accused Turkey of sending Syrian jihadists to participate in the conflict.
France has responded strongly to Erdogan’s remarks.
“President Erdoğan’s comments are unacceptable. Excess and rudeness are not a method. We demand that Erdoğan change the course of his policy because it is dangerous in every respect,” Macron’s office told AFP.
