PM Modi has cancelled a planned Turkey visit scheduled for later this year. As per reports, the government of India has planned not to go ahead with an upcoming visit to Ankara. The decision is believed to have been taken after Turkey’s anti-India remarks at the UNGA address over Jammu and Kashmir.
As per reports, the visit was planned in June this year when PM Modi had met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Osaka.
Turkey’s anti-India stand over Article 370 abrogation in Jammu and Kashmir, its support to Pakistan over the FATF blacklisting and negative statements against India has seemingly caused a dent in the bilateral relations between the two nations.
Following Erdogan’s remarks, PM Modi had also held meetings with the heads of Cyprus and Armenia at the UNGA. Both are Turkey’s rivals.
India’s assertive and non-submissive stand over its sovereignty and national interests on a global level, that has been practised under the Modi government recently saw India giving it back to Turkey in its own way.
India has openly criticised Turkey’s invasion of Syria, saying that it will create humanitarian and civilian distress in the region. India’s MEA had issued a stern statement condemning Turkey’s military offensive against the Kurds and had urged the Erdogan government to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Earlier, India had also put a 2.3 billion naval deal with Turkey’s Andalou Shipyard on hold. The deal is expected to be scrapped, causing the Turkish company considerable loss of business. The deal was for procuring five 45,000 tonne fleet support ships for the Indian Navy.
A report in The Hindu has stated that India’s foreign ministry has stated that no such visit was finalised. However, Turkey’s Ambassador to India Şakir Özkan has stated to the media outlet that there was a discussion over PM Modi’s visit and they have been waiting for alternative date proposals in the next couple of months.