Türkiye and France have committed to deepening their defence and security collaboration through a newly signed road map that encompasses intelligence sharing, air defence, military training, and joint defence industry projects. Announced by Türkiye’s Defence Ministry, this agreement seeks to create a structured framework for bilateral cooperation rooted in mutual interests.
The road map outlines plans for regular security consultations and enhanced coordination against hybrid threats. Both nations aim to improve the interoperability of their defence systems, with joint training and capacity-building activities in third countries to bolster regional stability. The agreement also includes personnel exchanges among military academies, port visits, and exercises involving land, naval, and air forces.
Moreover, Ankara and Paris are set to embark on joint defence projects, fostering technology and information sharing, and bolstering partnerships between their defence industries. The inaugural bilateral defence meeting, as part of this initiative, is scheduled for the latter part of 2026 and will alternate between the two capitals.
In other developments, Türkiye has voiced criticism of Israel’s military operations in southern Syria, citing raids, detentions, and strikes. Defence Ministry spokesperson Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk accused Israel of breaching the 1974 Disengagement Agreement with activities near Quneitra’s separation line and urged the international community to act to maintain regional peace.
Aktürk also noted ongoing confidence-building measures between Türkiye and Greece, highlighting military exchanges and discussions under the 2026 Confidence-Building Measures Implementation Plan.
On the domestic front, the Turkish Ministry of Defence reported the surrender of one PKK member and the apprehension of 660 individuals attempting illegal border crossings. Turkish authorities prevented an additional 1,383 crossings. Since the year began, 13,366 individuals have been apprehended for unauthorized border crossings, with 53,870 others prevented from illegal entry.