Erdogan Prevents Macron from Crossing Armenian-Turkish Land Border

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has not allowed French President Emmanuel Macron to enter his country via land from Armenia. He barred Macron from crossing the Armenian-Turkish land border following negotiations with Baku. This was reported by Report, referencing the Azerbaijani AZfront Telegram channel.

Macron, who was in Yerevan on an official visit from May 3 to 5, intended to make a "politically symbolic" move by traveling over the closed land border to Turkey to meet with Erdogan. According to informed sources, the visit had been previously coordinated with certain representatives of the Turkish side, but when the matter was discussed at the presidential level in Turkey, Erdogan rejected Macron after consulting with his strategic ally Azerbaijan.

The publication highlights that Macron hoped this trip would demonstrate his diplomatic weight amid external political failures. Crossing the closed Turkish-Armenian border, which has been in place for more than 30 years, could have served as a unique example of opening bilateral communications through the mediation of a third party.

According to sources, losses of positions in Africa and the Middle East, deteriorating relations with Israel, and the absence of results in Ukraine underscore the discrepancy between the French president's geopolitical ambitions and Paris's actual influence.

Amid these events, remarks by Turkey's envoy for relations with Armenia, Serdar Kilic, have also drawn attention. He mentioned feeling at home in Yerevan and claimed he based his suggestions to his Armenian counterpart Ruben Rubinian on the interests of the Armenian side.

Azerbaijani media outlets assess that such rhetoric contradicts Turkey's official stance and could be seen as a retreat from national interests.