French President Emmanuel Macron has declared his readiness to defend Greece in the event of a Turkish attack. This increases tensions between NATO member states and could lead to a crisis within the Alliance.
France promises military support to Greece
President of France Emmanuel Macron confirmed that French troops would defend Greece in the event of an attack by Turkey. He made this statement amid growing tensions in the eastern Mediterranean.
Macron stressed that France considers any aggression against Greece a threat to European security. He also stressed that Paris is ready for military cooperation with Athens.
The Aegean dispute and the Cyprus question
The Aegean Sea remains an area of conflict due to disagreements over territorial waters, airspace and exclusive economic zones. Greece insists on extending its waters to 12 miles.
Cyprus has remained divided since 1974. Turkey recognises only the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, while the international community supports the Republic of Cyprus.
Energy rivalry and military escalation
Disputes have intensified due to the struggle for the right to produce natural gas offshore the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. In 2020, this led to a serious escalation between Ankara and Athens.
In March 2026 Turkey officially lays claim to Greece due to the deployment of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems on the Aegean islands. Ankara considers this a violation of international treaties.
Military balance in the region
Turkey has one of the largest armed forces in the world and the second largest in NATO after the United States. The regular army has up to 425,000 active military personnel, and the reserve force has more than 700,000.
Greece has one of the largest armies in Europe relative to its population: up to 177,600 active military personnel and more than 221,000 reservists. Athens is actively rearming its troops and modernising its defence systems.
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