đź§June 9, 2025 Post 2: India–TĂĽrkiye Relations: Balancing Trade Amid Tensions | High Quality Mains Essay | Prelims MCQs
India–Türkiye Relations: Balancing Trade Amid Tensions
NATIONAL
🗓️ Post Date : June 9, 2025
Thematic Focus: GS Paper 2 – International Relations, Bilateral Ties, Strategic Diplomacy
🪶 Opening Whisper
“When two civilisations meet, it is not the clash of swords, but the dance of balance that defines their future.”
🔍 Key Highlights
- Historical Roots
- Ties trace back to Ottoman–Mughal exchanges (1481–82).
- Shared spiritual heritage through Mevlana Rumi & Indian Bhakti Movement.
- Modern Political Engagement
- Diplomatic ties since 1948; ErdoÄźan attended G20 Summit in Delhi, 2023.
- Regular dialogues through SCO, ASEAN, G20 forums.
- Trade Relations
- India has a $2.73 billion trade surplus with TĂĽrkiye (FY25).
- Key exports: Engineering goods (50%+), electronics, chemicals.
- TĂĽrkiye imports gold, nuts, marble from India.
- India is 3rd largest aluminium supplier to TĂĽrkiye.
- Defense & Security Strains
- Türkiye’s military ties with Pakistan affect Indian security calculus.
- India revoked security clearance for Çelebi Airport Services citing national concerns.
- Türkiye’s drones found in Pakistani arsenal during recent tensions.
- Counterbalancing Diplomacy
- India deepens strategic ties with Greece, Cyprus, Armenia.
- Engagements aimed at offsetting Turkish assertiveness in South Asia.
đź“š Concept Explainer
Geopolitics Behind the Trade Curtain
Despite TĂĽrkiye’s critical positions on Kashmir and growing ties with Pakistan, India has maintained an economic balancing act. This duality underscores India’s broader foreign policy vision: pragmatic engagement where interests align, and assertive retaliation where red lines are crossed.
🧠GS Paper Mapping
- GS Paper 2:
• Bilateral Relations – India–Türkiye
• India’s Neighbourhood & Extended Region
• Strategic Diplomacy and National Security - GS Paper 3 (linked):
• Impact of Trade & Energy Geopolitics
✨ A Thought Spark — by IAS Monk
“A true diplomat hears beyond words and builds bridges across silence. India and Türkiye may not share aligned maps, but they share rivers of trade — flowing not in harmony, but in endurance.”
High Quality Mains Essay For Practice :
Word Limit 1000-1200
India–Türkiye Relations: Walking the Tightrope of Trade, Diplomacy, and Strategic Realignments
Introduction
India and Türkiye (formerly Turkey) share centuries of civilizational ties, stretching from cultural exchanges during the medieval period to formal diplomatic relations established in the 20th century. However, the bilateral trajectory has seen fluctuations driven by geopolitical alignments, particularly Türkiye’s vocal support for Pakistan and its stance on Kashmir. Despite these frictions, trade between the two nations has steadily grown, compelling both sides to recalibrate their relationship, balancing economic pragmatism with strategic caution.
Historical Context and Cultural Foundations
The roots of Indo-Turkish relations go back to the 15th century, with diplomatic contacts between the Ottoman Sultans and rulers of the Indian subcontinent. The influence of Sufi philosophy, particularly that of Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi, found resonance in India’s Bhakti movement, symbolizing a spiritual common ground that transcended borders. These deep cultural affinities laid a foundation of mutual respect and understanding long before modern diplomatic channels were established.
Formal diplomatic relations began in 1948, a year after India’s independence. Over the decades, political engagement has included high-level visits and participation in multilateral forums like the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), G20, and the United Nations. However, the political trajectory has been uneven due to recurring disagreements over strategic issues.
Current Trade Relations: A Surplus of Opportunities
Despite political irritants, the trade relationship between India and Türkiye has witnessed steady growth. As of FY25, bilateral trade stood at over $8.45 billion, with India enjoying a trade surplus of $2.73 billion. India’s exports to Türkiye are led by engineering goods (over 50%), electronics, and chemicals. Turkey, in turn, exports a narrower range of goods to India—mainly fruits, nuts, gold, and marble.
Notable developments include:
- India is now Türkiye’s 3rd largest supplier of aluminium products, and ranks 10th for electrical machinery and 11th for surgical and pharmaceutical equipment.
- India’s engineering exports to Türkiye have grown by 24% over the last five years.
- After the Russia-Ukraine war, TĂĽrkiye increased petroleum imports from India, although this has tapered recently in FY25.
The economic engagement is supported by institutional mechanisms like the India–Turkey Joint Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (JCETC), which provides a framework for expanding business partnerships.
Strategic & Defense Engagement: A Tentative Collaboration
Türkiye has expressed interest in expanding defense cooperation with India, proposing joint military exercises, maritime security collaboration, and defense technology exchange. These moves come amidst Ankara’s attempts to diversify its foreign policy beyond NATO-centric alliances.
However, Indian caution is evident:
- Security clearance was revoked for Çelebi Airport Services India, a Turkish firm operating at Indian airports, due to national security concerns.
- Türkiye’s military exports to Pakistan, particularly drones and small arms, have raised red flags in New Delhi.
- During the Doklam standoff (2017), Türkiye echoed Pakistan’s rhetoric on Kashmir, further straining ties.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has maintained a reserved approach, often emphasizing sovereignty and non-interference in response to Turkish statements.
Political and Geopolitical Challenges
The central friction in India–Türkiye relations arises from Ankara’s support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. President Erdoğan has repeatedly raised Kashmir in international forums, including the UN General Assembly, portraying it as a humanitarian crisis. This rhetoric is deeply resented by India and viewed as interference in domestic affairs.
Other geopolitical challenges include:
- Türkiye’s alliance with Azerbaijan, especially during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has placed it closer to Pakistan and further from India.
- Ankara’s growing involvement in Central Asian geopolitics under the “Turkic world” vision is seen as an attempt to assert regional influence counter to India’s interests.
In response, India has strengthened ties with countries that share adversarial relations with Türkiye—Greece, Cyprus, and Armenia—engaging in defense talks and signing bilateral agreements.
India’s Strategic Counterbalance: The Greece–Armenia–Cyprus Axis
India’s outreach to Türkiye’s regional rivals has been carefully calibrated:
- With Greece, India has conducted naval exercises in the Mediterranean and signed defense cooperation agreements.
- Cyprus has backed India’s stance on Kashmir and opposes third-party interference in bilateral issues.
- Armenia has emerged as a key defense partner, with India supplying Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and other artillery systems.
These alliances not only serve as a diplomatic buffer but also provide India with strategic leverage in its engagement with TĂĽrkiye.
Multilateral Cooperation and Diplomatic Forums
Despite bilateral challenges, TĂĽrkiye and India continue to engage through multilateral platforms:
- Türkiye’s participation in G20, SCO, and UN forums provides avenues for back-channel diplomacy.
- India and TĂĽrkiye have cooperated on global financial reform, climate diplomacy, and COVID-19 response mechanisms.
These platforms allow for pragmatic collaboration on global issues even when bilateral tensions remain unresolved.
Way Forward: Navigating with Strategic Maturity
The future of India–Türkiye relations lies in adopting a pragmatic, layered strategy that isolates economic and people-to-people cooperation from political frictions.
1. Diplomatic Dialogue Must Continue: Even during tensions, backdoor diplomacy can prevent miscalculations. Regular engagements through embassies and consulates must be maintained to manage misunderstandings.
2. Prioritize Trade and Technology: Trade, engineering exports, pharma collaboration, and digital innovation are low-risk, high-reward sectors. These should be actively expanded.
3. Counterbalance Strategically, Not Emotionally: India’s outreach to Greece, Cyprus, and Armenia should continue but without creating permanent hostility with Türkiye. The objective must be deterrence, not provocation.
4. Strengthen Defense Due Diligence: Indian agencies must remain cautious in approving strategic infrastructure bids by Turkish firms. Simultaneously, India can propose joint military training in neutral venues to build trust.
5. Cultural and Academic Diplomacy: Shared heritage—such as Sufi-Bhakti links—can be the soft power bridge. Cultural festivals, academic exchanges, and tourism campaigns may create a more nuanced image of India in Turkish society.
Conclusion
India–Türkiye relations stand at a critical juncture—caught between economic interdependence and geopolitical divergence. While Türkiye’s overtures toward Pakistan remain a sore point, India’s mature diplomatic response and strategic engagement with Türkiye’s regional adversaries reflect a calibrated foreign policy. The challenge lies in maintaining this balance between pragmatism and principle—expanding areas of cooperation while vigilantly defending national interests. If navigated wisely, India and Türkiye can evolve from cautious partners to constructive collaborators in a multipolar world order.
Target IAS-26: Daily MCQs :
đź“Ś Prelims Practice MCQs
Topic:
MCQ 1 – Type 1: How many of the above statements are correct?
Consider the following statements about India–Türkiye Relations:
1. India and TĂĽrkiye established formal diplomatic relations in 1948.
2. The trade balance between India and Türkiye is currently in Türkiye’s favor.
3. Türkiye has supported India’s position on the Kashmir issue in multilateral forums.
4. India has recently revoked the security clearance of a Turkish airport services firm due to national concerns.
How many of the above statements are correct?
A) Only two
B) Only three
C) All four
D) Only one
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
âś… Correct Answer: A) Only two
🧠Explanation:
1) ✅ True – Formal diplomatic ties were established in 1948.
2) ❌ False – India enjoys a trade surplus of $2.73 billion with Türkiye.
3) ❌ False – Türkiye has backed Pakistan, not India, on the Kashmir issue.
4) ✅ True – India revoked clearance of Çelebi Airport Services citing security risks.
MCQ 2 – Type 2: Two Statements Based
Consider the following two statements:
1. TĂĽrkiye is among the top three global importers of Indian engineering products.
2. India has expanded defense cooperation with TĂĽrkiye through joint naval exercises.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
A) Only 1 is correct
B) Only 2 is correct
C) Both are correct
D) Neither is correct
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
âś… Correct Answer: A) Only 1 is correct
🧠Explanation:
1) ✅ True – Türkiye is the 8th largest destination for Indian engineering merchandise.
2) ❌ False – Defense cooperation has been limited and cautious; India has instead deepened ties with Greece, Armenia, and Cyprus.
MCQ 3 – Type 3: Which of the statements is/are correct?
Which of the following are correct regarding recent trends in India–Türkiye relations?
1. India’s exports to Türkiye include engineering goods, electronics, and chemicals.
2. Türkiye’s military technology has been exported to Pakistan.
3. India is the top exporter of petroleum products to TĂĽrkiye.
4. India has increased engagement with Armenia and Cyprus to counterbalance TĂĽrkiye.
Select the correct code:
A) 1, 2 and 3 only
B) 2, 3 and 4 only
C) 1, 2 and 4 only
D) 1, 3 and 4 only
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation
âś… Correct Answer: C) 1, 2 and 4 only
🧠Explanation:
1) ✅ True – India’s major exports to Türkiye include engineering and chemical products.
2) ✅ True – Türkiye has exported drones and defense systems to Pakistan.
3) ❌ False – Türkiye’s petroleum imports from India have declined recently.
4) ✅ True – India is engaging more with Armenia, Greece, and Cyprus strategically.
MCQ 4 – Type 4: Direct Fact
What is the name of the Turkish airport services firm whose security clearance was revoked by India in recent years?
A) Pegasus Aero Services
B) Turkish Air Logistics
C) Çelebi Airport Services
D) Istanbul Ground Handling Ltd
🌀 Didn’t get it? Click here (▸) for the Correct Answer & Explanation.
✅ Correct Answer: C) Çelebi Airport Services
🧠Explanation:
•India revoked the security clearance for Çelebi Airport Services India, citing national security concerns amid broader tensions with Türkiye.