Türkiye and France have taken a significant step towards enhancing their defence and security collaboration by signing a comprehensive road map. This new agreement outlines various facets of cooperation, including intelligence sharing, air defence, military training, and joint defence industry projects. The initiative aims to create a structured framework grounded in mutual interests, as stated by Türkiye’s Defence Ministry.
Under this road map, both nations will engage in regular security consultations and work towards better coordination against hybrid threats. Efforts will also be made to ensure compatibility between their defence systems. The agreement includes joint training and capacity-building activities in third countries, with the goal of supporting regional stability. Additionally, military cooperation will be bolstered through personnel exchanges, port visits, and exercises involving land, naval, and air forces.
Further collaboration is expected in the development of joint defence projects, along with the promotion of technology and information sharing between the two countries. Defence companies from both Türkiye and France are set to increase their cooperation. Bilateral defence meetings will rotate between the two nations’ capitals, with the inaugural meeting scheduled for the final quarter of 2026.
In a separate development, Türkiye has voiced criticism over Israel’s military operations in southern Syria, which include raids, detentions, and air and artillery strikes. Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk, a spokesperson for the Defence Ministry, accused Israel of breaching the 1974 Disengagement Agreement by undertaking excavation and road expansion activities near the separation line in Quneitra. Aktürk urged the international community to take action to safeguard regional peace and stability.
Moreover, Türkiye is continuing its confidence-building dialogue with Greece. Military delegations from both countries are actively engaged in exchanges and discussions as part of the 2026 Confidence-Building Measures Implementation Plan. On the domestic front, Türkiye’s border security efforts have led to the surrender of a PKK member and the apprehension of 660 individuals attempting illegal border crossings in the past week. Authorities have also thwarted 1,383 additional crossing attempts. Since the beginning of 2026, a total of 13,366 people have been apprehended for unauthorized crossings, with 53,870 others prevented from entering illegally.