President of Turkey and leader of Justice and Development (AK) Party, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, speaks during his party's group meeting at Grand National Assembly of Turkey in Ankara, on Feb 26, 2020. (ADEM ALTAN / AFP)

ISTANBUL / ANKARA - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday warned French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over the latter's opposition to Turkey's maritime activities in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The two NATO allies are at odds over Turkey's dispute with Greece on the exploitation of energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, as France opposes Turkey's drilling activities in the region

"Don't mess with Turkey and Turkish nation," Erdogan was quoted by the official Anadolu Agency as telling Macron in a speech to a symposium held in Istanbul.

"You cannot lecture us on humanity," Erdogan said, recalling the "massacres" conducted by France in Algeria and Rwanda that killed a large number of people. 

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The two NATO allies are at odds over Turkey's dispute with Greece on the exploitation of energy resources in the Eastern Mediterranean, as France opposes Turkey's drilling activities in the region.

Turkey has been opposing the drilling efforts of several countries, including Greece, without its involvement, claiming that it has the same rights in the waters.

Turkey recently dispatched its seismic survey vessel Oruc Reis, escorted by Turkish warships, to the disputed waters after Greece and Egypt signed a maritime border agreement.

Meanwhile, Turkey and Britain conducted joint naval drilling in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Turkish defense ministry said Saturday.

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"The British destroyer HMS ARGYLL and the frigate TCG GIRESUN carried out sea training in the Eastern Mediterranean on Sept. 11," the ministry tweeted.