Türkiye and France have formalized a new road map aimed at bolstering their defence and security cooperation. The agreement, as announced by Türkiye’s Defence Ministry, encompasses a range of collaborative efforts including intelligence sharing, air defence, military training, and joint defence industry projects.
The pact seeks to create a structured framework for bilateral cooperation, driven by mutual interests. It outlines plans for regular security consultations and enhanced coordination against hybrid threats. Furthermore, the agreement aims to improve compatibility between the defence systems of the two nations.
Key components of the road map include joint training and capacity-building activities in third countries, aimed at enhancing regional stability. Military cooperation is set to expand through personnel exchanges between military academies, as well as port visits and exercises involving land, naval, and air forces.
Ankara and Paris have also committed to developing joint defence projects and promoting technology and information sharing. Enhanced cooperation between their defence companies is also planned. Bilateral defence meetings will alternate between the two capitals, with the inaugural meeting scheduled for the last quarter of 2026.
In other developments, Türkiye has expressed criticism of Israel’s military activities in southern Syria, specifically citing raids, detentions, and air and artillery strikes. Rear Adm. Zeki Aktürk, a spokesperson for Türkiye’s Defence Ministry, accused Israel of violating the 1974 Disengagement Agreement through activities near Quneitra’s separation line. He called for international measures to maintain regional peace and stability.
Aktürk also addressed ongoing confidence-building measures between Türkiye and Greece, indicating that military delegations from both countries are engaged in exchanges and talks as part of their 2026 Confidence-Building Measures Implementation Plan.
Additionally, the ministry reported developments on border security, including the surrender of a PKK member and the apprehension of 660 individuals attempting illegal border crossings. Turkish security forces also blocked another 1,383 from crossing. Since the start of 2026, authorities have apprehended 13,366 individuals attempting unauthorized crossings and prevented 53,870 others from entering illegally.