Türkiye and France have embarked on a significant expansion of their defence and security cooperation, formalized through a newly signed road map. This agreement, announced by Türkiye’s Defence Ministry, is designed to enhance bilateral collaboration in areas such as intelligence sharing, air defence, military training, and joint defence industry projects. The initiative aims to create a structured framework driven by shared interests, facilitating regular security consultations and improved coordination against hybrid threats.
The road map outlines joint training and capacity-building activities in third countries to promote regional stability. It also fosters increased military cooperation through personnel exchanges, port visits, and exercises involving land, naval, and air forces. Furthermore, Ankara and Paris plan to bolster joint defence projects, foster technology and information sharing, and enhance collaboration between their defence companies. Scheduled bilateral defence meetings will rotate between the two capitals, with the inaugural session anticipated in the last quarter of 2026.
In a separate development, Türkiye has voiced criticism regarding Israel’s military operations in southern Syria. Defence Ministry spokesperson Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk accused Israel of violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, citing excavation and road expansion activities near the separation line in Quneitra. Türkiye has called on the international community to take action to uphold regional peace and stability.
Additionally, Türkiye is engaged in ongoing confidence-building initiatives with Greece. Military delegations from both nations continue to exchange and hold talks under the 2026 Confidence-Building Measures Implementation Plan. These efforts are part of broader regional security measures.
On the domestic front, Türkiye’s security forces have reported the surrender of one PKK member in the past week. Authorities have also apprehended 660 individuals attempting illegal border crossings and prevented another 1,383 from entering the country. Since the start of 2026, Turkish authorities have detained 13,366 people trying to cross borders without authorization and thwarted 53,870 other attempts.