PrintFriendlyThe once cordial ties between India and Turkey have, in recent years, witnessed a marked deterioration, evolving into a complex dynamic characterized by strategic competition and divergent geopolitical interests. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India has adopted a calibrated approach to counter Turkey’s assertive foreign policy, particularly its growing alignment with Pakistan and its interventions in matters sensitive to Indian sovereignty.
The Erosion of Amity: Why India is Against Turkey Now
The shift in India-Turkey relations can be attributed to several key factors, primarily stemming from Turkey’s increasingly vocal support for Pakistan and its perceived interference in India’s internal affairs, especially concerning Jammu and Kashmir.
Firstly, Turkey’s unwavering backing of Pakistan on the Kashmir issue has been a consistent point of contention. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has, on multiple occasions, used international platforms, including the United Nations General Assembly and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to criticize India’s actions in Kashmir. This stance directly contradicts India’s firm position that Kashmir is an integral part of its territory and a purely internal matter. India views such statements as an unwarranted intrusion into its sovereignty and a clear alignment with Pakistan’s narrative.
Secondly, the deepening military and strategic nexus between Turkey and Pakistan has raised significant concerns in New Delhi. Reports indicate that Turkey has emerged as Pakistan’s second-largest defense supplier after China. The recent “Operation Sindoor” incident, where Turkish-manufactured drones (specifically Asisguard Songar models) were allegedly used by Pakistan against Indian military installations, served as a stark demonstration of this growing defense cooperation. This direct involvement in hostilities against India has crossed a critical line, fueling India’s apprehension about Turkey’s intentions in the broader South Asian region.
Thirdly, Turkey’s aspirations for a pan-Islamic leadership role often clash with India’s diverse and secular identity. Erdogan’s efforts to champion pan-Islamism and project Turkey as a leader of the Muslim world are seen by India as an attempt to undermine its standing, particularly within the OIC, where Pakistan frequently attempts to isolate India. India, home to one of the world’s largest Muslim populations, views Turkey’s rhetoric as an unwelcome interference in its domestic religious affairs and an attempt to sow discord.
Lastly, Turkey’s broader assertive foreign policy and growing influence in various regions, from the Eastern Mediterranean to North Africa and the Caucasus, are also subjects of Indian scrutiny. While not directly aimed at India, this assertiveness contributes to a perception of Turkey as a revisionist power that might challenge established regional orders, thereby creating potential points of friction with India’s own strategic interests.
Modi’s Counter-Strategy: A Multi-pronged Approach
In response to Turkey’s actions, the Narendra Modi government has adopted a pragmatic and multi-pronged strategy, aiming to counter Turkish influence without resorting to overt confrontation. This approach is characterized by diplomatic outreach, strategic partnerships, and economic recalibration.
One of the most significant aspects of India’s counter-strategy is strengthening strategic partnerships with Turkey’s regional rivals. A prime example is Prime Minister Modi’s recent landmark visit to Cyprus in June 2025, the first by an Indian premier in over two decades. This visit is widely seen as a strategic signal to Turkey, given Cyprus’s long-standing territorial dispute with Turkey, which occupies a significant portion of the island.
How the Cyprus Visit Helps India’s Counter-Turkey Strategy:
The visit was strategically timed and multifaceted, yielding tangible benefits for India’s foreign policy objectives:
Reinforcing Shared Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity: During the visit, both leaders reiterated their strong support for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. For Cyprus, this meant India’s continued backing for a peaceful resolution of the “Cyprus Question” in line with UN Security Council resolutions. Crucially, for India, Cyprus expressed its unwavering support against cross-border terrorism, especially following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, and condemned any justification for such acts. This mutual reaffirmation of territorial integrity and a shared stance against terrorism directly counters Turkey’s narrative and its support for Pakistan.
Building a “Mediterranean Front” against Turkish Assertiveness: By deepening ties with Cyprus, India is strategically aligning itself with a nation that directly counters Turkey’s regional assertiveness. Discussions during the visit included enhanced defense cooperation, cyber and maritime security, and intelligence exchange. This move is part of a broader “Mediterranean front” that India is building, which also includes enhancing relations with Greece and Armenia – all countries with their own historical or contemporary tensions with Turkey. The joint declaration also highlighted plans for more frequent Indian Navy calls to Cypriot ports and enhanced joint maritime training and search and rescue operations, bolstering India’s naval presence and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, a region where Turkey has been particularly assertive.
Facilitating the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Cyprus, due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean, is seen as a crucial logistics hub for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), announced at the 2023 G20 Summit. Prime Minister Modi underscored Cyprus’s role as a “linchpin” for this trade, energy, and digital connectivity corridor. By leveraging Cyprus’s position as a “gateway into Europe,” India aims to diversify its trade routes, reduce reliance on traditional pathways, and foster greater economic integration with Europe, bypassing potential bottlenecks or influences associated with Turkey. This economic leverage adds a significant dimension to India’s counter-strategy.
Gaining Diplomatic Support in Multilateral Forums: Cyprus has been a consistent and strong supporter of India’s bid for a permanent seat on a reformed United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). During the visit, Cyprus reiterated this crucial diplomatic backing. This support strengthens India’s global standing and helps in isolating Turkey’s attempts to undermine India’s influence in international bodies.
Expanding Bilateral Cooperation across Key Sectors: Beyond geopolitics, the visit also focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in diverse areas such as trade and investment, science and research, fintech, digitalization, AI, innovation, startups, and mobility. A five-year roadmap was agreed upon, alongside new dialogues on cyber and maritime security, and a mechanism for real-time information exchange on terrorism, drugs, and arms trafficking. These engagements enhance India’s overall strategic depth and provide tangible benefits that contribute to its comprehensive national power.
Furthermore, India continues its established diplomatic efforts. On the diplomatic front, India has been firm and unequivocal in rejecting Turkey’s comments on Kashmir at international forums. Indian diplomats consistently assert that Kashmir is an internal matter and that Turkey has no locus standi to comment on it. India has also called out Turkey’s collaboration with Pakistan within the OIC, urging member states to recognize Pakistan’s attempts to “misuse” the organization for its own agenda. This strong diplomatic push aims to isolate Turkey’s narrative on Kashmir and ensure that India’s position is clearly understood globally.
Economically, while bilateral trade between India and Turkey has been substantial in the past, reaching over $10 billion, there has been a noticeable recalibration. Following incidents of Turkish support for Pakistan, there have been widespread calls in India for boycotts of Turkish goods and a visible decline in Indian tourism to Turkey. The Indian government also discontinued a contract with a Turkish company handling baggage at Indian airports. While not an official government-imposed boycott, these public sentiments and commercial shifts reflect a growing wariness and a conscious effort to reduce economic dependencies on Turkey.
Lastly, India is also focusing on bolstering its defense capabilities and diversifying its defense partnerships to counter any potential future threats emanating from the Turkey-Pakistan nexus. The revelation of Turkish drones being used by Pakistan has underscored the need for enhanced surveillance, air defense, and indigenous defense production.
The relationship between India and Turkey, once characterized by historical and cultural ties, has undeniably undergone a significant transformation under the Narendra Modi government. The shift is not merely a diplomatic squabble but a reflection of India’s proactive foreign policy that seeks to protect its national interests and counter any external interference in its sovereign matters.
Prime Minister Modi’s strategy is not about direct confrontation, but rather a sophisticated approach of strategic counterbalancing. By forging stronger alliances with countries like Cyprus that share concerns about Turkey’s regional ambitions, promoting alternative economic corridors, firmly rejecting unwarranted external interventions, and recalibrating economic engagements, India is sending a clear message to Ankara. The recent Cyprus visit served as a potent symbol of this strategy, demonstrating India’s willingness to engage strategically with Turkey’s rivals to safeguard its own interests. This realistic reassessment of ties ensures that India’s foreign policy remains agile and responsive to the evolving geopolitical landscape, safeguarding its interests in a multipolar world.
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