Macron meets Mitsotakis ahead of emergency summit

French President Emmanuel Macron held a bilateral meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ahead of an emergency summit in Corsica by leaders of European Union countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.

Macron urged fellow European leaders Thursday to stand up to the Turkish government and what he called "unacceptable" provocations as Ankara seeks to expand its energy resources and influence in the eastern Mediterranean.

The summit in Corsica is being held amid fears of an open conflict with Turkey stemming from mounting tensions over offshore oil and gas drilling.

Turkish leaders have lashed out at France and the EU for siding with Greece and Cyprus in the dispute.

Greece and Turkey have deployed naval and air forces to assert competing claims over energy exploration rights in the eastern Mediterranean.

Turkish survey vessels and drill ships continue to prospect for gas in waters where Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights.

France is carrying out military patrols in the region in a show of support for Greece and Cyprus, and the EU is mulling new sanctions against Turkey.

At the Corsica summit, France wants the European leaders to push for resuming German mediation in the eastern Mediterranean dispute. Russia also offered this week to mediate.

The leaders also plan to discuss EU and NATO operations in the Mediterranean and their relation to Turkey.