Paris (AFP)
The presence of Turkey within NATO "must be raised with our allies" because of its "aggressive behavior (...) towards allied countries", ruled Wednesday the former president François Hollande ( 2012-2017).
"What are we doing, France, Turkey, in the same alliance?" Asked France Info the predecessor of Emmanuel Macron, recalling that the country is, in law, "an ally "of France by virtue of its presence within NATO.
"These are aggressive policies of Turkey towards allied countries, and which encourage armed conflicts at the gates of Europe," said the former French president.
"Turkey today has a behavior in Syria which is not acceptable, causing conflicts which can encourage the terrorist organizations to resurface", explained François Hollande, also citing the role of Turkey in the conflict between Armenia. and Azerbaijan, and its "behavior" in Libya.
The personal attacks of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan towards Emmanuel Macron, "it is serious", he still judged.
According to him, "Turkey's aggressive behavior, yes, that poses a problem for Turkey's presence in the Atlantic Alliance".
Ankara on Wednesday condemned a cartoon mocking Mr. Erdogan on the front page of Charlie Hebdo which she said reflects "hostility against Turks and Islam".
This is the latest episode in a series of tensions between Turkey and France.
On Monday, Mr. Erdogan called on his fellow citizens to boycott French products, a few days after Paris recalled its ambassador to Ankara after the Turkish head of state questioned the "mental health" of his French counterpart.
The geopolitical differences are deep.
Paris criticizes Turkish positions and interventions in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Syria, Libya and the Eastern Mediterranean.
© 2020 AFP