In 2020, tensions between Greece and Turkey escalated when a Turkish hydrographic research vessel, accompanied by military forces, operated near the Greek island of Kastellorizo. This action heightened existing disputes over natural gas exploration in the exclusive economic zone [EEZ] of the Republic of Cyprus and unresolved territorial disagreements. In response, Greece formed a strategic partnership with France, which included a mutual assistance agreement renewed in April 2024. Six years later, new tensions have arisen between Athens and Ankara, though they have not yet reached the intensity of the 2020 crisis. This time, the conflict centers on the "Great Sea Interconnector" project, an electricity transmission line intended to connect Greece and Cyprus over a distance of more than 898 kilometers, with potential involvement from Israel. Turkey opposes the project because its proposed route passes through areas it claims jurisdiction over. The issue is of particular interest to France, as the French investment fund Meridiam holds 66% of the project's shares, and the production and installation of the electrical cable are being handled by the company Nexans. In recent months, however, France and Turkey have initiated a cautious move toward improved relations. This was evident when France did not object to the delivery of air-to-air METEOR missiles to the Turkish air force as part of an order for twenty Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the British company BAE Systems. This decision caused some diplomatic friction with Greece. More recently, France has reportedly been in talks with Italy about the possibility of selling SAMP/T NG air defense systems to Turkey. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed during the July NATO summit in Ankara that France and Turkey are exploring cooperative military efforts. In May 2025, the French company Safran signed a "strategic" partnership with the Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, aiming to boost innovation in areas such as "smart weapons" and "advanced navigation technologies." A Senate report from 2025 had previously recommended strengthening the Franco-Turkish relationship to collaborate on peace efforts. On October 2, the Director General for International Relations and Strategy [DGRIS], Guillaume Ollagnier, met with his Turkish counterpart, General Ä°lkay Altındag, for a strategic dialogue on major security and defense issues. Ollagnier explained on the social media platform LinkedIn that the meeting allowed both countries to share their analyses and identify areas of agreement in a geopolitical context shaped by the war in Ukraine and ongoing tensions in the Middle East. The dialogue led to the signing of a "roadmap" aimed at strengthening defense cooperation between France and Turkey. This initiative is part of the broader framework of Franco-Turkish relations, according to the DGRIS. On the social media platform X, Alice Ruffo, the minister delegate to the minister of the armed forces, mentioned meeting with General Altındag and discussed stabilization efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, the situation in Ukraine, and the work of a volunteer coalition. She also emphasized the importance of strengthening the defense relationship between the two countries.