Turkey Blasts French Decision To Deploy Rafale Jets In Greek Cypriot Admin Area

Turkey Blasts French Decision To Deploy Rafale Jets In Greek Cypriot Admin Area

The presence of French fighter jets in the Greek Cypriot administration’s area is against the 1960 Treaties, Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday. The Greek Cypriot administration, Greece, France, and Italy launched a joint military exercise earlier in the day to the west of the island of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The deployment will reportedly include two Rafale jets, as well as a naval frigate Lafayette. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French: “I have decided to temporarily reinforce the French military presence in the eastern Mediterranean in the coming days in cooperation with European partners, including Greece.” The landing of the French military aircraft to the Greek Cypriot administration on the pretext of an exercise carried out with the Greek Cypriot administration, Greece and Italy, and the temporary or permanent deployment of these aircraft on the island is against the 1960 Treaties,” Hami Aksoy said in a statement.