Macron denounces Turkey’s ‘violations’ of Greek, Cypriot sovereignty

French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday denounced what he called Turkey's "violation" of the sovereignty of Greece and Cyprus, as tensions mount between Athens and Ankara.

"I want once again to reiterate France's full solidarity with Cyprus and also with Greece in the face of Turkey's violation of their sovereignty," the French leader said ahead of talks with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades at the Elysee Palace.

"It is not acceptable for the maritime space of a member state of our Union to be violated or threatened. Those who contribute must be sanctioned," Macron said.

Greece's navy said Wednesday that it had deployed ships in the Aegean in "heightened readiness" after Turkey announced plans for energy exploration near a Greek island in an area it claims is within Turkey's continental shelf.