Relations between France and Turkey have been strained in recent months as Turkey seeks new oil and gas resources in the eastern Mediterranean, as well as challenging France's sphere of influence in the region.

Emmanuel Dupuis, head of the European Institute for Vision and Security, stressed that Turkey and France are currently seeking to use force to weaken each other.

He told the e-magazine Mail in Cyprus that France has a long and historic relationship with the Kurds, while Turkey has always attacked and threatened the Kurds.

Dupuis believes that France sees the Kurds in northern Syria as well as the Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government as strong allies, indicating that France strongly supports the Kurds as an anti-Turkish issue.

Reporter’s code: 50101