FRANCE is conducting joint military exercises with Greek forces in the eastern Mediterranean after sending two fighter jets and a warship amid mounting tensions with Turkey.
The joint training exercises come a day after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to increase France’s military presence in the region. The move is in response to soaring tensions between Greece and Turkey over disputed waters in the eastern Mediterranean.
The French armed forces ministry said on Thursday it was sending two Rafale fighter jets and the naval frigate Lafayette to the region.
The frigate and the jets arrived in Crete and carried out joint manoeuvres with Greek forces, Greek defence sources said.
In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Macron announced France would boost its military presence in the eastern Mediterranean.
The French President also warned Turkey to halt oil and gas exploration in disputed waters.
The statement said France will "temporarily reinforce" its military presence to "monitor the situation in the region and mark its determination to uphold international law”.
It added that Mr Macron discussed concerns over "unilateral" exploration by Turkey in a call with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The statement said that prospecting should "cease in order to allow a peaceful dialogue" between Turkey and Greece.
After his call with the French President on Wednesday, Mr Mitsotakis tweeted: "Emmanuel Macron is a true friend of Greece and a fervent defender of European values and international law.”
Tensions between Turkey and Greece continued to soar this week with the arrival of Turkish seismic research vessel Oruc Reis in a disputed area of the Mediterranean.
The two countries have competing claims to natural gas reserves.
In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Mr Mitsotakis warned Turkey "no challenge will go answered”.
He said: "The risk of an accident lurks when so many troops are concentrated in a limited area.
"And the responsibility lies with the one who causes these conditions.
"We will never be the first to sharpen things.
"But no challenge will go unanswered.
"We raise the attitude of responsibility and legitimacy."
Mr Macron last month called for EU sanctions against Turkey for "violations" of Greek and Cypriot sovereignty over their territorial waters.
Relations between Paris and Ankara have also been strained over the conflict in Libya.
