Published July 8th, 2026 - 07:47 GMT
ALBAWABA - French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Turkey to attend the NATO Summit in the capital, Ankara, along with his wife, Brigitte Macron, but he was mocked again.Upon his arrival to attend the NATO meeting, Macron and his wife were received by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife, Emine. The 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit will be held at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.Macron greeted Erdogan, then he tried to kiss the hand of Turkish First Lady Emine, who, in return, refused his kiss and pulled back.France's First Lady Brigitte Macron was standing next to the French president during the exchange of greetings in Ankara.🇫🇷🇹🇷 Macron almost kissed the hand of Türkiye's first lady Emine Erdogan at the NATO summit in Ankara. He stopped himself just in time when he apparently remembered Islamic ordinances regarding physical contact between unrelated men and women. Not the best look for the…— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 7, 2026 The clip sparked wide interactions online, with some saying she pulled back to show respect for the French leader, while others roasted Macron, saying he likes to embarrass himself, as this was not the first time someone refused his hand kiss gesture.One wrote on X, "As Turkish women, no matter how conservative we are, we’re still used to this kind of gentlemanly behavior. There was nothing inappropriate or uncomfortable about the situation, I mean.."Another said, "In Islamic culture, hand-kissing is a sign of respect for the elders. The hand is kissed and touched to the forehead. In European-style women's hand kissing, the lips don't touch the hand; this gesture is enough."Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan (CR) and his wife Emine Erdogan (R) welcoming France's President Emmanuel Macron (CL) and his wife Brigitte Macron (L) at the NATO Summit. (Photo by HANDOUT / TURKISH PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE / AFP)
