Erdogan and Macron to Meet for the First Time After Turkish-French Crisis

On March 2, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and France's President Emmanuel Macron will hold a meeting via video conference. It is noted that the parties will discuss the topic of normalizing Turkish-French relations, as well as regional issues and Turkey-EU relations.

Interestingly, this marks Erdogan and Macron's first meeting since the tensions that arose in September of the previous year, according to Ermenihaber. Previously, the French newspaper 'L'Opinion' reported that today's Erdogan-Macron meeting signals a move towards the normalization of bilateral relations.

Recall that diplomatic tensions between Ankara and Paris emerged after the French magazine Charlie Hebdo published caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad, which French President Macron described as a matter of free speech. In response, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Macron needs a psychiatrist for his attitude towards Muslims. Furthermore, the Turkish President called on his citizens to boycott French goods and accused Macron of Islamophobia. Following Erdogan's remarks, official Paris recalled its ambassador from Ankara.

Erdogan was angered by Macron's statement that it is necessary to create an organization with the Muslim Council to help establish a 'guiding Islam.'