The Turkish Defence Ministry declared that the French frigate FS Courbet (F712) visited Istanbul between 22-24 November 2024. The vessel is well known in Turkiye as she increased tension with Turkiye in 2020,
(Photo Credit Cem Devrim Yaylalı)
Turkish Defence Ministry spokesperson Admiral Zeki Aktürk stated at a weekly press briefing that FS Courbet )F712) visited Istanbul. The la Fayette-class frigate caused tension between Turkiye and France in 2020.
In an incident in the Mediterranean in 2020, the French Navy’s FS Courbet (F712) approached the frigates TCG Gökçeada (F 494) and TCG Oruçreis (F 245) with manoeuvres that would endanger navigation safety. This action was due to the third search attempt of a ship that was carrying logistic support to Libya under the protection of Turkish warships.
Following the incident, France claimed that a radar illumination was made by a Turkish navy to FS Courbet and complained about Turkiye to NATO. At the time, an investigation conducted by the order of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg indicated that Turkish ships did not act in line with the French claims. In response to this decision, France announced that NATO withdrew from Operation Sea Guardian in the Mediterranean.
Following this protest, France returned to NATO duty after a while. The ship was later repaired due to a fire that broke out while en route to deployment to the central and eastern Mediterranean as part of NATO’s SNMG2.
The ship was last seen in her main Port in Toulon on November 15, 2024. It is assumed that she came directly from Toulon to visit Istanbul ports. FS Courbet’s (F 712) visit to Turkish Ports is, therefore, an indication of developments in bilateral relations. The vessel might visit some Turkish Navy ports during the decreasing tension procedure.
