The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has firmly refuted recent media reports alleging that Turkey has imposed a ban on military exports to India. The MEA has labelled these reports as "disinformation at best" and directed any further inquiries to the Turkish Embassy.
The reports, which originated in Turkey, claimed that a Turkish government official had disclosed the alleged ban during a closed-door parliamentary session. It was speculated that this move was in favor of Pakistan, further straining the already tense diplomatic relations between Ankara and New Delhi.
The MEA's official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, clarified during a press conference that the information was not accurate and urged caution against accepting such claims without verification.
While Turkey has not officially commented on the issue, an executive from a Turkish arms procurement agency reportedly mentioned in a closed-door meeting that no permits are being granted for arms exports to India due to political circumstances and Turkey's friendship with Pakistan.
This alleged ban comes amidst a steady decline in India-Turkey relations over the past few years. Ankara's unwavering support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, India's tilt towards Greece, and the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict have all contributed to the strained ties.
Despite these allegations, India remains largely unaffected. New Delhi has already terminated weapons shipments to Turkey and cancelled a significant $2.5 billion naval deal with a Turkish defence company. This aligns with India's broader strategy of reducing its dependence on foreign defence imports, particularly from untrusted nations and promoting domestic production.
Notably, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) is now proceeding independently with the design and construction of five Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy, after excluding a Turkish firm from the project due to Turkey's stance on Kashmir. The first delivery is expected in mid-2027.
The ongoing situation underscores the complexities of international relations and the importance of verifying information from multiple sources before drawing conclusions. It remains to be seen how this incident will further impact the diplomatic relations between India and Turkey.
