India-Türkiye Relations

General Studies Paper-2

Context: India is carefully balancing its trade relations with Türkiye (Turkey), ensuring that economic advantages are not compromised despite geopolitical concerns.

About India-Turkey Relations

• Historical and Early Diplomatic Engagements: India and Turkey share a long history of diplomatic and cultural exchanges, dating back to the Ottoman era.
  • The first exchange of diplomatic missions between the Ottoman Sultans and the Muslim rulers of the subcontinent dates back to the years 1481-82.
  • The Sufi Philosophy of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi found a natural resonance Bhakti movement in India.
• Political Engagement: Both have maintained formal diplomatic ties since 1948.
  • Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited India for the G20 Summit in 2023.
  • Both nations focused on trade, investment, defense, and security cooperation.
  • Turkey has participated in multilateral forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and ASEAN meetings, where officials from both nations have engaged in dialogue.
• Trade and 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.

Current Trade Statistics

• India has a trade surplus of $2.73 billion with Turkey, primarily driven by engineering goods, electronics, and chemicals.
• In FY25, India’s exports to Turkey totaled $5.72 billion, with engineering exports accounting for over 50% of the total.
• Turkey had increased petroleum product imports from India following the Ukraine war, but it has seen a significant decline in FY25.
• However, Turkey’s exports to India remain limited to fruits, nuts, gold, and marble.
• Defense and Security Cooperation: Türkiye has expressed interest in defense collaboration, including joint military exercises and technology exchange.

Concerns & Challenges in India-Turkey Relations

• Geopolitical Challenges: Turkey’s support for Pakistan, including military supplies, has led to security clearance cancellations for Turkish firms operating in India.
  • Additionally, Turkey has historically backed Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, further straining diplomatic ties.
• Security & Infrastructure Issues: India recently revoked security clearance for Çelebi Airport Services India citing national security concerns.
  • It reflects India’s growing scrutiny of Turkish firms involved in critical infrastructure.
  • Additionally, concerns over Turkish drones used by Pakistan in military conflicts have strained relations.

India’s Response

• India has been actively engaging with Greece, Cyprus, and Armenia to counterbalance Turkey’s influence and military expansion in South Asia.