Brief Context
Context India and Türkiye held the 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) after a gap of four years, indicating efforts to revive strained bilateral relations. Background Türkiye, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, repeatedly raised the Kashmir issue at international forums. Relations worsened during Operation Sindoor, where Türkiye supported Pakistan militarily and diplomatically.
Source Content
Syllabus: GS2/ International Relations
Context
- India and Türkiye held the 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FoC) after a gap of four years, indicating efforts to revive strained bilateral relations.
Background
- Türkiye, under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, repeatedly raised the Kashmir issue at international forums.
- Relations worsened during Operation Sindoor, where Türkiye supported Pakistan militarily and diplomatically.
- India responded by excluding Türkiye from diplomatic briefings and witnessing public calls to boycott Turkish tourism and trade.
- Consequences: Indian tourist arrivals to Türkiye declined by 37% in June 2025 compared to the previous year.
- Bilateral trade between India and Türkiye decreased to $8.71 billion, reflecting a significant contraction in economic engagement.
Global Dynamics Shaping Relations
- Türkiye has been actively involved in regional diplomatic initiatives, including consultations with countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan.
- India has also recently engaged with Azerbaijan despite earlier tensions over its support to Pakistan.
- India’s outreach to countries like China and Malaysia indicates a broader recalibration of its foreign policy approach.
- These developments reflect India’s willingness to engage pragmatically with countries despite past disagreements.
Significance of Türkiye for India
- Türkiye occupies a strategic location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, which makes it important for India’s connectivity and geopolitical outreach.
- Türkiye holds significance in multilateral forums such as the United Nations and the G20, where cooperation can support India’s global interests.
- Türkiye’s role in the Islamic world makes it relevant for India in managing its diplomatic engagement with Muslim-majority countries.
Brief on India-Türkiye Relations
- Economic Relations: The Bilateral Trade Agreement between India and Turkey was signed in 1973.
- It was followed by an Agreement on setting up an India–Turkey Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation (JCETC) in 1983.
- Bilateral trade has shown significant growth, crossing USD 10 billion in 2021–22 and reaching approximately USD 13.88 billion in 2022–23.
- Institutional Framework of Bilateral Engagement: India and Türkiye institutionalized Foreign Office Consultations in 2000 to ensure regular diplomatic dialogue.
- The Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism provides a platform for security cooperation, with its last meeting held in 2019.
- The India–Türkiye Policy Planning Dialogue, launched in 2020, strengthens strategic coordination between the two countries.
- Humanitarian Assistance: India launched Operation Dost in 2023 to assist Türkiye after devastating earthquakes.
- The Indian diaspora in Türkiye is estimated to be around 3,000 individuals.
Challenges in Bilateral Relations
- Differences over the Kashmir issue continue to remain a major source of friction.
- Türkiye’s close strategic relationship with Pakistan poses challenges to trust-building.
- Past military and diplomatic support to Pakistan has created a perception gap in India.
- Domestic political narratives and leadership statements continue to influence bilateral ties.
Concluding remarks
- India–Türkiye engagement reflects a pragmatic shift in diplomacy, where managing differences takes precedence over confrontation.
- In a fragmented global order, such engagements help maintain strategic autonomy and stability in international relations.
Source: TH