Turkey and France Sign Defence Roadmap as Greece Buys French Arms

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Turkey and France have signed a Defence Cooperation Roadmap aimed at strengthening bilateral military ties and cooperation in the defence industry, the Turkish Ministry of Defence said.

According to Ankara, the two sides agreed to deepen strategic dialogue and take concrete steps to develop their cooperation. The talks were held as part of high-level military contacts between the two countries.

The French delegation included Alice Rufo, deputy to the minister of the armed forces and veterans; General Vincent Giraud, chief of staff to the French president; and Guillaume Ollagnier, director general for international relations and strategy.

The discussions reviewed the state of bilateral defence and military relations and the progress of the strategic dialogue between Ankara and Paris. The Turkish side said the talks also covered ways to expand cooperation in both the defence industry and the armed forces. Both sides stressed the need for regular contacts aimed at concrete results.

The ministry described the roadmap as the main outcome of the meetings. It is intended to upgrade defence cooperation and give the strategic dialogue an institutional framework.

Greece already buys French kit

The Ankara–Paris step comes as Greece remains one of France’s main defence customers in the region. Athens has bought Rafale fighter jets and four French-built FDI frigates, also known as Belharra, for the Hellenic Navy. The first Greek ship, Kimon, was welcomed into service in the Saronic Gulf in January 2026. Greek yards are also building sections of the programme, and Athens has bought French Exocet anti-ship missiles.

Those purchases sit alongside long-running Greek–Turkish disputes in the Aegean and the eastern Mediterranean, which is why closer Turkish–French defence talks will be watched in Athens.

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