India-Turkey Relations (also known as Indo-Turkic relations) refers to the bilateral relations between the Republic of India and the Republic of Turkey.
Established since 1948, the international relations between India and Turkey has been largely cordial, but as of 2020 it has been strained due to Turkey taking sides with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.
This article will further give details about India-Turkey Relations within the context of the IAS Exam.
History of India-Turkey Relations
There have been regular contacts between Indian and Turkey since medieval times. The Ottoman Empire even sent expeditions to allied kingdoms such as the Zamorin and the Gujarat Sultanate to help them fight against the Portugese colonisation.
However, the siege of Diu in 1538 permanently ended direct Ottoman presence in the subcontinent, when the Portugese defeated a combined fleet of the Ottoman Empire as well as that of the Gujarat Sultanate.
Following the empire’s defeat in World War I, the Khalifat movement was underway to preserve Turkey’s sovereignty. It was also supported by Mahatma Gandhi and spoke out against the harsh victor’s peace imposed on the nascent Turkish republic.
Full diplomatic relations between India and Turkey were established in 1947 but the relations were frosty at best. Turkey had allied itself with NATO while Indian was part of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Relations between the two only developed at the desired pace following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
Until recently, Turkey was a vocal advocate of Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir dispute.
Following the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Turkey criticised India’s action, effectively taking Pakistan’s side. It made scathing remarks against the actions in the United Nations, earning a sharp retort from India itself. This has led to strains in the relation between India and Turkey but as per foreign relations experts, it is has not completely soured as of 2021.
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Trade and Defence Relationship between India and Turkey
The bilateral trade relations between India and Turkey lay emphasis on developing cooperation programmes that can increase and enhance the commercial relations between the two, which in turn are mutually beneficial and sustainable.
Since India is the second largest populated country in the world it is a viable market for Turkey. Not just India, it views South Asia as a whole a potential market and seeks to cultivate good relations with India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Despite the sporadic cases of tensions between the two nations that have been increased by corporations in the field of education, technology and commerce.
India conveyed its willingness to expand military to military contacts, and mutual exchange of delegations to training facilities.
Following the visit of the Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan (now President) to India in November 2008, an agreement was reached between the two nations to allow increased cooperation between the armed forces of both India and Turkey. Regular but low profile passage exercises (PASSEX) between the navies of the two nations are carried out.
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