ISTANBUL: Turkey鈥檚 president has taken aim at France鈥檚 leader, following French criticism about Turkish maritime activities in the eastern Mediterranean that have ignited tensions with Greece and the European Union.
In a speech Saturday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed that French President Emmanuel Macron was targeting him.
鈥淵ou will have many more problems with me,鈥� Erdogan said, adding, 鈥渄on鈥檛 mess with the Turkish nation and Turkey.鈥�
On Friday, Marcon said that Europe needed to be 鈥渃lear and firm鈥� with Erdogan鈥檚 government over its actions.
France and Turkey, both NATO members, have been at odds over an arms embargo for Libya and over the situation in the eastern Mediterranean, where Paris is supporting Greece and Cyprus, who say Turkey is looking for oil and gas in their waters. Turkey says it has equal rights to the resources in those waters.
Erdogan also said France has no right to criticize Turkey, considering its colonial record.