Macron Hosting EU Mediterranean States Leaders Amid Turkey Row

By Staff, Agencies

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday is hosting leaders from EU member states with Mediterranean shorelines for a key summit.

Leaders of France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, as well as Greece and Cyprus, will gather at the French island of Corsica amid tensions with Turkey.

There, they will try to "make progress in the consensus on the relationship of the EU with Turkey above all ahead of the 24-25 September EU summit," according to the French presidency.

Before the summit, Macron will hold talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

France has come out in support of Greece and Cyprus in their spat with Ankara over control of maritime resources and offshore oil and gas deposits, as well as maritime border lines.

Turkey last month deployed its exploration vessel Oruc Reis in waters between Greece and Cyprus, which prompted Athens to stage naval exercises. Ankara conducted military maneuvers in the area as well.

In another point of contention with some of those gathering on Corsica Thursday, Ankara sided with the UN-recognized Government of National Accord [GNA] in Libya, while France is said to have tacitly supported its rival, eastern-backed strongman Marshal Khalifa Haftar.