Turkey-India relations: 2023 could be a turning point
Abdulkadir Aksöz / Istanbul Medeniyet University – International Relations Graduate Student
Although the G-20 started as a common economic forum for the world’s 20 largest economies, it has now taken on a structure that encompasses a range of global and geopolitical debates. Undoubtedly, the G-20 summits draw attention as a strategic organization network where the limitations and political relations between member states are discussed. Despite the erosion of different proposals and proposals under the intense pressure of global records, the emphasis on cooperation and partnership is tried to be preserved. It is true that in a world of mountains, bridging chasms and building consensus is no easy task. The deep polarization caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the frightening children of climate change, and the economic crisis caused by the epidemic, make it very difficult to carry huge burdens such as record levels, food and energy shortages, trade costs and sanctions.
A CRITICAL ACTOR OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY
In such a conjuncture, India has a superior strategic feature compared to its counterparts. New Delhi has become a critical actor in international diplomacy, positioning it away from the pure borders of the executive and increasing its freedom of action through multilateral relations networks. India, which has many important groups such as BRICS, IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa), South Asian Regional Cooperation Organization (SAARC) and Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), can be used effectively during the G-20 Presidency, win-win with all major economies. established an extraction partnership. However, India, which has implemented a flexible foreign policy through its past non-alignment and current multilateral strategy, has significant activity for mediation, negotiation and moderation.
It is noteworthy that in 2023, India’s G-20 Presidency, as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Presidency, coincide with the same slot. The country’s presidencies’ party reflects the increasing reflection on its perception of itself as the leader of the Global South, with the global goal towards a multipolar world. This would make a significant contribution to the foreign policy objective of promoting economic and political integrations while emphasizing India’s growing role as a conduit between East and West. In addition, New Delhi will have a unique business where these diverse but important forums can share key concerns such as central region and global development, energy and food supply chain protection, and take the lead in solving common problems. The main lines of all these developments, the political and economic business can be carried out in a deep way by increasing the Turkey-India relations well above the expectations in 2023.
ANKARA–NEW DELHI LINE
The meeting of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the margin of the September 2022 Shanghai Cooperation Organization Samarkand Summit was reflected as an important containment development between the two countries. In this meeting, the two leaders re-evaluated the bilateral relations between India and Turkey with a holistic perspective and focused on ways to intensify economic cooperation. It should be noted that the engagement at the economic level on the Ankara-New Delhi line is spreading more and more each year. Bilateral trade between India and Turkey increased from $8 billion to $10 billion between 2018 and 2021. With the acceleration of business people and their collective visits, the power to get to know each other better becomes stronger, while the aforementioned rapprochement increases with the collapse of the commercial forum and economic summits. Two closely related countries may sign a free trade agreement or a comprehensive economic partnership agreement to maintain the current course and diversify economic relations.
In addition to the diligent efforts of the missions on the diplomatic plane, it bears fruit with the strengthening of commercial ties. While the new Ambassador of India to Ankara Virander Paul presented his letter of credence to President Erdogan on November 30 and his soldiers took office, Fırat Sunel, Turkey’s New Delhi Ambassador, re-worked the links with all services for the strengthening of relations since May 2021 and all of a sudden for the organs of the operation. embroidery is working. As a matter of fact, the year 2023 may be a golden year in which the return of this effort and labor will finally be received. The Turkish-Indian relations created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Asia Again Initiative can make attack after attack in a wide range from gastronomy to tourism, from health to technology, from agriculture to space. Turkey and India can take all the aforementioned departments ready to develop their energies and existing potentials to the top. Taking firm steps forward in the centennial of the Republic, Ankara should prioritize its relations with India, which is remarkable with its strong economy, young population and economic size, as a strategic partner and an ancient friend. Ultimately, 2023 may be a turning point in the history of Turkish-Tip relations.