French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to greet Turkish First Lady Emine Erdoğan with a cheek-kiss, but she pulled away from the gesture.
The incident highlights the friction that can occur when Western diplomatic customs clash with strict cultural or religious protocols during high-level international summits.
The interaction took place during a NATO dinner held in Brussels, Belgium, on June 12, 2024 [1]. Video of the encounter shows Macron moving in for a customary French greeting, which is often a kiss on the cheek. Emine Erdoğan, who was accompanied by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, withdrew from the gesture as Macron approached.
Diplomatic protocols vary significantly between nations, and the French tradition of the *bise*—the social kiss—does not align with the more conservative standards often observed by the Turkish First Lady. The resulting moment of hesitation was captured on camera and has since circulated online as a notable diplomatic lapse.
While the dinner was intended to foster cooperation among NATO allies, the brief exchange served as a visual reminder of the cultural divide between the two administrations. The event occurred amidst a broader context of complex relations between France and Turkey, though the specific cause of the rebuff was the conflict between Macron's customary greeting and Turkish protocol [1].
Neither the French presidency nor the Turkish government issued a formal statement regarding the specific interaction. However, the footage remains a point of discussion regarding the importance of pre-summit briefings on cultural etiquette to avoid public awkwardness on the global stage.
“Emine Erdoğan pulled away, resulting in an awkward diplomatic moment that was captured on video.”
This event underscores the critical role of cultural intelligence in diplomacy. When leaders fail to adhere to the specific social and religious protocols of their counterparts, it can create perceived slights or public embarrassment that overshadow the political objectives of a summit. In the context of NATO, where diverse cultural norms must coexist, such interactions illustrate the persistent gap between European social norms and the conservative traditions of the Turkish leadership.
