India’s Generosity Met With Turkey’s Bitterness: Diplomatic Strains Amid Trade And Tourism Ties

For a country that has long benefited from Indian generosity, whether in times of disaster or diplomacy, Turkey seems to have developed a surprisingly selective memory. When COVID-19 wreaked havoc across its population and hospitals ran short of essential medicines and vaccines, it was India that stepped in with timely supplies.

And when a devastating earthquake flattened entire towns and claimed thousands of lives, Indian relief teams were among the first to land, offering not just aid but solidarity. Turkey has also been a favourite destination for Indian travellers.

Istanbul, the city that straddles both Asia and Europe, regularly features on the itinerary of Indian tourists, drawn to its culture, history, and hospitality. And no trip is complete without suitcases packed with lokum, better known as Turkish Delight—a sticky, sweet confection that somehow tastes better when bought from the Grand Bazaar than from duty-free. There is no official count of how much Turkish Delight Indian travellers carry home, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that it could fill a warehouse.

Beyond tourism, India also happens to be one of Turkey’s best customers. Every year, India imports over Rs 10,000 crore worth of Turkish fruits and dry fruits—figs, pistachios, dates, and almonds being among the favourites.

Few countries match this level of trade engagement in such items. In return, what did India get recently? A version of Turkish Delight that left a bitter aftertaste. During India’s recent skirmishes with Pakistan, Turkey not only refrained from condemning the killing of 26 Indian tourists in Kashmir, but it went out of its way to support Islamabad.

Ankara provided Pakistan with drones intended to breach Indian airspace—though with limited success, given how quickly they were neutralised. Worse, Turkey reportedly supplied trained operatives to Pakistan, two of whom were taken down during India’s Operation Sindoor.

This isn’t the Turkey of Atatürk—the leader who tried to drag his nation into the modern age by enforcing secularism and banning regressive religious practices. That legacy has been steadily eroded under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has used religion as a tool to consolidate power.

His controversial decision to reconvert Hagia Sophia into a mosque symbolised a shift away from secular values and towards a more confrontational posture, both internally and on the global stage. India has been patient but not forgetful.

It would do Turkey well to remember the lesson Maldives learned not too long ago: offending India can have economic consequences. Indian travellers, importers, and policymakers have choices—and memories. If Ankara continues down this path, it may soon get a taste of a different confection altogether: India’s very own Retaliation Rasgulla—sweet on the surface, but with a message that lingers.