New Delhi: In a calibrated diplomatic move, India is set to skip events marking Turkey’s National Day on October 29, reflecting the continuing chill in relations between New Delhi and Ankara.
According to government sources, officials have been quietly instructed to avoid participating in any Turkish National Day receptions or related celebrations. While no public announcement is expected, the decision has been coordinated across key ministries and agencies as part of a broader message underscoring India’s disapproval of Turkey’s recent conduct.
Ties between the two countries have remained uneasy in recent years, largely due to Ankara’s repeated criticism of India’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and its close alignment with Pakistan on global platforms. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s continued remarks on India’s internal matters have further deepened the rift.
The latest move follows India’s firm diplomatic messaging to Turkey earlier this year in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, which reshaped New Delhi’s strategic posture in the region. The government’s decision not to participate in Turkey’s National Day events is being viewed as a symbolic but clear signal that India will not extend diplomatic courtesies to nations that question its sovereignty.
Analysts say the decision also highlights India’s shifting geopolitical priorities. As New Delhi strengthens partnerships through new regional frameworks like I2U2 (India-Israel-UAE-US) and the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), Turkey finds itself on the periphery of these emerging alliances.
In June 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus was widely interpreted as part of this recalibrated approach. By reaffirming India’s support for Cyprus’s sovereignty — a stance directly at odds with Ankara’s claims over Northern Cyprus — Modi sent a pointed message about India’s evolving strategic outlook and readiness to assert its national interests.
India’s latest diplomatic stance, though subtle, makes its intent unmistakable: relations with Turkey will remain cool until mutual respect and non-interference become the foundation of engagement.
