Bizarre footage has emerged showing Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan seemingly refusing to let go of Emmanuel Macron’s finger as world leaders met at a summit in Albania.
The awkward interaction between Erdogan and the French president was caught on camera at the European Political Community meeting on Friday.
Erdogan, who was sitting on a chair while Macron stood by his side, is shown grabbing onto the French president’s hand and shaking it.
In an unexpected gesture, the 71-year-old Turkish leader then tightly grips onto Macron’s middle finger for a few seconds before releasing the French politician from his grasp.
The unusual exchange went viral on social media over the weekend, prompting mixed reactions among internet users.
One X user joking: ‘Hey Erdogan, pull my finger!’.
‘Erdogan has a finger-point recognition palm,’ another commented.
Some internet sleuths interpreted the interaction as an attempt from the Turkish president to assert dominance over Macron.
A video captured an awkward exchange between Erdogan and Macron at the European Political Community summit in Albania on Friday
In an unexpected gesture, the Turkish leader was seen tightly grips onto Macron’s middle finger for a few seconds before releasing the French politician from his grasp
‘Erdogan shows Macron who’s boss,’ one X account wrote in response to the video.
‘Macron tried to establish psychological superiority by putting his hand on President Erdogan ‘s shoulder, but Erdogan wasn’t having it.
‘He held Macron’s finger tightly and did not let go. Macron has been shown who’s the boss,’ another user said.
Others, however, found the Turkish leader’s gesture strange, raising questions over Erdogan’s health.
‘Erdogan appeared visibly unwell as he held Macron’s finger, a gesture that raised concerns—even his wife looked worried’ one X account commented.
‘While some may interpret it as a show of dominance, it more likely revealed his frail and ill condition,’ the user added.
It comes as European leaders descended on the Albanian capital of Tirana Friday, as they agreed to press ahead with joint action against Russia over the failure to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The summit also came as Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow’s full-scale invasion, which began on February 24, 2022.
Several internet users have claimed the Turkish president was attempting to assert dominance over Macron
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer speak during a Ukraine security meeting at the European Political Community Summit (EPC) in Tirana, Albania
European leaders descended on Tirana Friday, as they agreed to press ahead with joint action against Russia over the failure to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine
The summit also came as Russia and Ukraine held their first direct peace talks since the early weeks of Moscow’s full-scale invasion. The meeting was held in Turkey
krainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov speaks to press after the trilateral meeting among Turkiye, Russia, and Ukraine aimed at seeking peace between Moscow and Kyiv, at Dolmabahce Presidential Office in Istanbul
This handout photograph shows Turkish Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan (C), Russian delegation (R) and Ukrainian delegation (L) attending a meeting for Ukraine-Russia peace talks at the Turkish Presidential office Dolmabahce, in Istanbul
The peace talks, which were held in Turkey Friday, ended after less than two hours, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
French President Emmanuel Macron said it was ‘unacceptable that, for a second time, Russia hasn’t responded to the demands made by the Americans, supported by Ukraine and the Europeans.
‘No ceasefire, and therefore no meeting at a decision-making level. And no response.’
Macron added: ‘We will continue to coordinate with our European partners — the coalition of the willing — and the United States. There will be new contacts and feedback in the coming hours.’
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said: ‘The diplomatic efforts that we have made so far have unfortunately failed because of Russia’s lack of readiness to take the first steps in the right direction now.’
‘But we will not give up; we will continue and we will coordinate well on the European side, together with the Americans,’ Merz said.
Prior to the talks, Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelensky said that he was committed to ending the war, but urged the European leaders to ramp up sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to play for time in talks aimed at securing a truce.
‘Ukraine is ready to take all realistic steps to end this war,’ Zelensky said. But he warned: ‘If it turns out that the Russian delegation really is just theatrical and can’t deliver any results today, the world must respond.’
That reaction, he said, should include ‘sanctions against Russia’s energy sector and banks.’
