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My Article published on the “Indus International Research Foundation” website on 18 Jul 25.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the grand theater of global geopolitics, alliances and rivalries shape the dynamics of diplomacy. Over the past decade, Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan has pursued an increasingly assertive foreign policy that extends well beyond its traditional spheres of influence. One of the most intriguing and consequential elements of this strategy is Turkey\u2019s deepening engagement with India’s neighbours. Turkey\u2019s relations with India\u2019s immediate neighbours form a complex web of strategic, military, economic, and ideological engagements. Turkey has pursued a neo-Ottoman foreign policy, leveraging historical ties, Islamic solidarity, and defence exports to expand its influence in South Asia. This “strategic tango” has significant implications for South Asia\u2019s balance of power, particularly from New Delhi’s perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Turkey and Pakistan: Ideological Brotherhood beyond Diplomacy<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The relationship between Turkey and Pakistan is characterised by its closeness and growing complexity, grounded in a shared Islamic identity, historical connections, and reciprocal geopolitical backing. Under the leadership of Erdo\u011fan, these ties have developed into a strong strategic partnership.<\/span><\/p>\n The two nations have engaged in collaboration concerning military training, defence manufacturing, and joint naval exercises. Turkey ranks as Pakistan\u2019s second-largest arms supplier, following China, providing sophisticated military equipment, including Bayraktar TB2 and Asisguard Songar drones, corvettes, missile systems, and enhancements for Pakistan\u2019s F-16 fleet. These exports have strengthened Pakistan\u2019s military capabilities, notably in drone warfare, which constitutes an increasing concern for India along the Line of Control (LoC) and other unstable border regions. During the recent India-Pakistan conflict (Operation Sindoor), reports suggest Turkey supplied Pakistan with between 300 and 400 drones, along with other military assistance, thereby intensifying tensions.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkey has also supported Pakistan\u2019s stance on Kashmir, frequently raising the issue at the United Nations and other international forums. Ankara has consistently condemned India\u2019s 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which nullified the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, and has articulated this position at various international platforms, including the United Nations. Conversely, Pakistan endorses Turkey on issues such as the Cyprus dispute and Azerbaijan\u2019s stance in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, thereby reinforcing their strategic alliance.<\/span><\/p>\n By clearly aligning with Pakistan on a sensitive bilateral matter, Turkey has indicated its readiness to confront India on the international stage. This has led to a strong Indian reaction, with tourism bookings to Turkey decreasing by 60% and cancellations increasing by 250% in 2025, along with calls for trade boycotts.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Bangladesh: Growing Engagement and Deepening Ties.<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s diplomatic relations with Bangladesh have markedly strengthened, primarily due to defence collaboration and economic prospects. Ankara has employed a strategic approach incorporating humanitarian assistance, cultural diplomacy, and religious outreach to foster rapport with Dhaka. The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has been actively engaged in Bangladesh, financing educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and infrastructure developments. Furthermore, the administration of President Erdo\u011fan has adopted a firm stance regarding the Rohingya crisis, providing refuge to displaced persons and vocally criticising Myanmar\u2019s policies. This stance aligns closely with the perspectives held by Bangladesh.<\/span><\/p>\n Bangladesh has reportedly acquired Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. These drones, whilst augmenting Bangladesh\u2019s military capabilities, evoke concerns in India regarding their possible deployment along the shared 4,096-kilometre border. Economically, Turkey has actively engaged with Bangladesh through trade and infrastructure initiatives, capitalising on Dhaka\u2019s expanding economy and strategic positioning. Turkey\u2019s neo-Ottoman ambitions align with certain political factions within Bangladesh, notably those sympathetic to Islamist rhetoric, thereby further fortifying bilateral relations.<\/span><\/p>\n This ideological alignment, coupled with defence cooperation, has raised concerns in New Delhi, which fears that Turkey\u2019s influence could destabilise its eastern neighbourhood.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Emerging Engagements With Other Neighbours<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Turkey has also expanded its focus to smaller South Asian nations, including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, and the Maldives. These countries, often overlooked in global strategic considerations, possess significant geopolitical importance due to their strategic locations and vulnerability to external influences.<\/span><\/p>\n In Nepal, Turkey\u2019s influence is predominantly diplomatic and cultural. Ankara has increased its embassy presence, provided scholarships, and facilitated interfaith dialogue through its Diyanet Foundation. Although not explicitly political, these initiatives form part of Turkey\u2019s broader strategy to extend its influence via cultural engagement and religious diplomacy.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s engagements with Sri Lanka are less pronounced but strategically significant. Turkey has pursued economic ties and limited defence cooperation, including potential drone exports. In Bhutan, Turkey\u2019s presence is primarily economic, with investments in infrastructure and trade.<\/span><\/p>\n Myanmar, notwithstanding its political instability, has experienced Turkey\u2019s outreach through humanitarian aid and limited defence negotiations, capitalising on shared Islamic affiliations with specific communities. Although these efforts are less advanced than those with Pakistan and Bangladesh, they demonstrate Turkey\u2019s broader strategy to augment its presence in India\u2019s vicinity.<\/span><\/p>\n The Maldives, a small island nation located in the Indian Ocean, has attracted interest from numerous international actors, including China, India, and currently Turkey. The government led by Erdo\u011fan has enhanced bilateral engagements and extended development aid. As the archipelago increasingly assumes a pivotal position in the contest for influence within the Indian Ocean, Turkey\u2019s engagement signifies its aspiration to participate actively in regional maritime geopolitics.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The China Factor: Converging Interests, Diverging Identities<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n While not a neighbour in the strict sense, China has a significant influence on India\u2019s strategic outlook and is becoming increasingly important for Turkey as well. Ankara and Beijing share common viewpoints in criticising Western dominance and promoting multipolarity. Turkey participates in China\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), though with varying enthusiasm. Economic needs have motivated Erdo\u011fan to pursue Chinese investment, especially during Turkey\u2019s ongoing financial instability.<\/span><\/p>\n Nevertheless, the relationship encounters some friction. Turkey has historically been a vocal critic of China\u2019s treatment of the Uighurs, a Turkic Muslim minority in Xinjiang. Erdo\u011fan previously characterised Chinese policies as “genocide,” although such rhetoric has become less prominent in recent years as economic pragmatism has gained precedence.<\/span><\/p>\n From India\u2019s perspective, Turkey\u2019s ties with China heighten concerns. Both nations have shown a readiness to oppose India on Kashmir and support Pakistan. Although their ideological bases differ\u2014Turkey with its neo-Ottoman and Islamist inclinations, and China with its authoritarian state capitalism\u2014their strategic interests sometimes align, especially in efforts to counter Indian influence.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Strategic Implications for India<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s neo-Ottoman ambitions, propelled by President Erdo\u011fan\u2019s vision of global Islamic leadership, frequently conflict with India\u2019s secular, multipolar foreign policy. Turkey\u2019s increasing engagement with India\u2019s neighbouring countries carries strategic implications that New Delhi must carefully consider. Although Turkey does not possess the economic strength or geographical proximity to directly challenge India, its ideological assertiveness and alignment with adversarial interests render it a disruptive presence in South Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n Ankara\u2019s vocal endorsement of Pakistan regarding Kashmir elevates the issue to an international level, countering India’s stance that it is a bilateral matter. This not only strengthens Pakistan\u2019s position but also offers diplomatic protection for narratives that contest India\u2019s territorial sovereignty.<\/span><\/p>\n The Turkey-Pakistan alliance, fortified through defence cooperation and shared stances on issues such as Kashmir, remains highly contentious. Turkey\u2019s provision of advanced weapons, including drones and naval equipment, boosts Pakistan\u2019s military strength, directly challenging India\u2019s security along its western border. Additionally, Turkey\u2019s defence collaborations with Bangladesh and the Maldives pose a threat to India\u2019s influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s soft power efforts, particularly in Muslim-majority areas, aim to establish Ankara as a leader within the Islamic world. This contrasts with India\u2019s approach, which focuses on building ties with Muslim-majority nations through economic and developmental partnerships, rather than religious solidarity.<\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s growing collaboration with China and Pakistan may constitute a loose yet influential axis characterised by common objectives to curtail Indian influence. While the establishment of a formal alliance appears improbable, convergences on particular issues, such as opposing India\u2019s ascent or supporting anti-Indian narratives, could pose a persistent strategic challenge.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n India\u2019s Options<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n In response to Turkey\u2019s assertiveness, India needs to adopt a multifaceted strategy. India\u2019s displeasure needs to be signalled by reducing high-level diplomatic exchanges, and through economic levers such as trade and tourism advisories. Another option is to strengthen ties with countries that view Turkish policies with suspicion. Enhancement of defence and economic cooperation with Greece, Armenia, Cyprus, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) would convey the right message. Closer at home, India needs to leverage its cultural diplomacy, economic strength, and infrastructure investments to counter Turkish influence in neighbouring countries. Initiatives like the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and the Indo-Pacific outreach provide platforms that could be used to build alternative narratives to Ankara\u2019s Islamic solidarity approach.<\/span><\/p>\n Conclusion<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Turkey\u2019s strategic engagement with its neighbours in South Asia, often described metaphorically as a Tango, appears to be more than mere diplomatic manoeuvring. It seems to constitute a deliberate effort to reshape regional alliances and enhance Ankara\u2019s influence within the Muslim world and beyond. For India, this diplomatic dance presents both a challenge and an opportunity: a challenge to its strategic environment and regional influence, and an opportunity to refine its diplomatic strategies and foster resilient partnerships. India must navigate these intricate geopolitical developments with vigilance to safeguard its regional interests. By fortifying its alliances and leveraging its economic and military capacities, India should endeavour to ensure that Turkey\u2019s actions do not destabilise the delicate balance of power in South Asia.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Please Add Value to the write-up with your views on the subject.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n