Latest news with #TurkishNavy
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Opinion: Kashmir To Kyrenia, PM Modi Resets Eurasian Chessboard
Last Updated: Modi's choice of gift, a Kashmiri silk carpet, was a firm reminder that J&K is India's sovereign terrain, just as a reunited Cyprus remains Nicosia's non-negotiable objective The world took only passing notice when Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Nicosia on June 15. Yet for close watchers of Eurasian geopolitics, the visit was a strategic inflection point: New Delhi's most pointed riposte to Ankara's unabashed support for Islamabad and a deft assertion of India's own red lines on sovereignty. Picture Credit Rahul Sharma @CIHS Turkey's dictatorial President Erdogan has, for years, amplified Pakistan's Jammu and Kashmir narrative at the UN, transferred unlawful killer drone technology to Rawalpindi, and aligned diplomatically after every India-Pakistan flare-up in May 2025. For New Delhi, Indo-Pacific is no longer the only arena where coercive partnerships need balancing; the Eastern Mediterranean now figures prominently in India's 'extended neighbourhood". With its 1974 invasion of Cyprus, Turkey occupies roughly 36 per cent of the island, a fait accompli recognised only by Ankara. The occupation like the Pakistani Occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and territories of Ladakh namely Gilgit-Baltistan is rarely headline news. But Modi's landing in Cyprus made sure it briefly elbowed Gaza war, Red Sea shipping routes and Ukraine off analysts' front pages. Nominally, the trip produced standard diplomatic deliverables: a joint declaration pledging intensified defence – industrial collaboration, an information-sharing framework on counter-terrorism, cyber security and expanded naval cooperation, Indian warships will make more calls at Cypriot ports and conduct joint search-and-rescue drills. What made the optics powerful was less the paperwork than symbolism. Modi's choice of gift, a hand-knotted Kashmiri silk carpet, was a polite but firm reminder that Jammu and Kashmir is unquestionably India's sovereign terrain, just as a reunited Cyprus remains Nicosia's non-negotiable objective. The Cypriot leadership reciprocated by publicly thanking India for 'standing up for sovereignty," words that landed like a shot across the bow in Ankara, where strategic planners have banked on the Islamic world's silence over Northern Cyprus. Modi offered no press-conference grandstanding; the statement of support appeared in the joint communiquéé and in Cyprus gratitude, proof that deliberate ambiguity often resonates louder than televised barbs. For decades, Eastern Mediterranean has been Turkey's strategic back-yard. The Turkish Navy exerts sea control; Turkish petroleum parastatals map offshore gas blocks; and Ankara leverages the 'Cyprus question" to box out European Union pressure. India's arrival alters that mental map. Regular Indian Navy port calls, if operationalised, will put a blue-water Asian presence at the doorstep of NATO's southern flank. That has twin signaling value: to Turkey, that its actions in South Asia carry costs in its own neighbourhood and to the EU-27, that India is willing to shoulder limited security responsibilities in Europe's periphery. The visit also dovetails neatly with the nascent India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC). Cyprus, an EU member and chair in 2026 with convenient trans-shipment facilities and legal clarity, can serve as the Mediterranean gateway for IMEC sea–land–rail lattice, reducing dependence on Suez chokepoint and giving Indian exporters a predictable entry point into the European single market. By grafting strategic access onto an economic corridor, New Delhi builds dual-use leverage without flaunting gunboat diplomacy. Domestically, Modi's subtle poke at Ankara offers an answer to critics who argue that New Delhi is often too restrained when foreign capitals weaponise the Jammu and Kashmir discourse. Internationally, the gambit helps India consolidate support among small and medium European states that resent Turkish maximalism but lack the heft to counter it alone. For Nicosia, partnering with G-20 heavyweight boosts deterrence far beyond what Brussels has provided. There is a United Nations angle, too. Turkey's military presence in Northern Cyprus violates multiple Security Council resolutions, but enforcement has languished. By throwing India's diplomatic weight behind Cyprus's territorial integrity, Modi has effectively globalised what Ankara hoped would remain a regional wrinkle. Elevated visibility complicates any future attempt by Turkey to extract concessions, whether on gas exploration blocs or on a two-state settlement, by holding European unity hostage. Great-power statecraft often hinges on narrative as much as kinetics. In Cyprus, Modi wrote a concise but compelling script: sovereignty is indivisible, occupations are unacceptable, and India has the agency to intervene, politically and symbolically, well beyond the Indian Ocean. In doing so, New Delhi inserted itself into a theatre where it had little historical presence, turned Turkey's Cyprus problem into a talking point in South Asia, and reminded Pakistan that its external backers have vulnerabilities of their own. Analysts inclined to dismiss the visit as a minor European detour miss the slow-burn strategic dividend. Like Cheniere's gas cargoes that transformed LNG markets after years of obscurity, today's silk-carpet diplomacy may look mundane until the first Indian Navy destroyer docks in Limassol or the first IMEC freight train off-loads Indian pharmaceuticals bound for Central Europe. By then, the message to Ankara will require no amplification: alignments have consequences, and India now writes a few of the footnotes in the Eastern Mediterranean ledger. For a world fatigued by protracted altercations, Cyprus often feels like a frozen footnote to history. Modi's masterstroke reminds us that frozen conflicts can thaw and when they do, new actors will shape the meltwater. The sooner chancelleries from Washington to Brussels internalise that reality, the better prepared they will be for the next iteration of Mediterranean geopolitics. Rahul Pawa is an international criminal lawyer and director of research at New Delhi based think tank Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies. He tweets @imrahulpawa. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 20, 2025, 15:44 IST
See - Sada Elbalad
09-07-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Turkish Amb. Praises Egypt's Warm Hospitality for TCG BÜYÜKADA Corvette Visit to Alexandria
Ahmed Emam Turkish Ambassador to Egypt H.E. Salih Mutlu has praised the strong spirit of cooperation and friendship between Turkey and Egypt during the port visit of the Turkish Navy corvette TCG BÜYÜKADA to Alexandria, describing the reception as a symbol of growing ties between the two nations. In a post on X, Ambassador Mutlu highlighted that TCG Büyükada, built entirely with Turkish national resources and expertise, has successfully completed a three-month voyage that reached as far as Malaysia, returning to the Mediterranean through Alexandria. 'Our corvette, which safely crossed oceans, has accomplished this long journey and returned home to the familiar and serene waters of the Mediterranean,' he wrote. 'I extend my congratulations to the esteemed captain of the corvette and its distinguished crew for completing this mission with great skill and dedication.' The ambassador expressed deep gratitude for the hospitality shown by Egypt's naval leadership and officials during the visit. 'I would like to extend my thanks to the leadership of the Egyptian Navy for the warm welcome and generous hospitality extended to our ship and crew,' he added. 'I was pleased by the warmth I encountered from Egyptian military and civilian officials, as well as friends who joined the reception held aboard the corvette.' Ambassador Mutlu also shared new photos on X capturing moments from the reception and interactions between Turkish and Egyptian officials, highlighting the positive atmosphere and cordial relations during the event. The Turkish envoy underscored that such engagements reflect the positive momentum in Turkish-Egyptian relations and contribute to fostering regional stability and mutual understanding. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
See - Sada Elbalad
08-07-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
Turkish Istanbul Shipyard Achieves Breakthrough in Submarine Construction
Basant Ahmed The Istanbul Shipyard in Turkey has made a significant breakthrough in the field of submarine manufacturing, marking a milestone in the country's naval defense capabilities. This advancement underscores Turkey's growing expertise and self-reliance in producing advanced underwater vessels. The newly developed submarine project highlights cutting-edge technologies and innovative design features that enhance operational efficiency, stealth, and combat readiness. The Istanbul Shipyard's success is expected to boost the Turkish Navy's strategic underwater fleet and strengthen national security. This achievement also reflects Turkey's commitment to expanding its indigenous defense industry and reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. The project is part of a broader national initiative to modernize and diversify military assets, positioning Turkey as a key player in regional maritime defense. The Istanbul Shipyard continues to work on further developments and future submarine models, aiming to maintain technological superiority and meet evolving defense requirements. Turkish Istanbul Shipyard Breakthrough in Submarine Construction" based on the content from the provided link: Mazimiz şanlı, Yarınlarımız güçlüdür bizim! 🇹🇷 'MİLGEM Beşinci Gemi Tedariki Projesi' kapsamında; TCG İSTANBUL fırkateyninden gerçekleşen fiilî atışlarla hedefler tam isabetle vuruldu. Tarihten gelen gücümüze güç katmaya devam edeceğiz! @STMDefence @SavunmaSanayii … — T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı (@tcsavunma) July 5, 2025 read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean
The Print
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Print
Turkey's ‘Asia Anew' isn't just a slogan—it's a growing strategic surprise for India
Amid this global instability, Turkey is quietly deepening its footprint in the Indian subcontinent. Hours after Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, the Turkish Navy's Ada-class corvette, TCG Büyükada , docked in Colombo—its sixth such visit to Sri Lanka in a year. The personal reception by Sri Lanka's acting Defence Minister, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), signals Ankara's rising influence in the region. Once focused largely on Muslim-majority nations, Turkey's evolving engagement with non-Muslim states like Sri Lanka hints at a broader strategic pivot—one that deserves close attention in New Delhi's long-term security assessments. India finds itself navigating one of the most turbulent geopolitical periods in recent memory. The strategic alignment between Pakistan and China during Operation Sindoor—India's first two-front war—and Islamabad's engagement with the United States after that have complicated India's regional and global strategic calculus. In recent years, Turkey has rapidly expanded its defence footprint in the Indian subcontinent, emerging as the second-largest arms supplier, after China, to both Pakistan and Bangladesh. The strategic depth of its engagement with Pakistan is particularly evident in joint defence initiatives like the Turkish fifth-generation fighter project, Kaan. Beyond South Asia's continental core, Ankara is also extending its reach into the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including into the Maldives. However, it is Turkey's growing ties with Sri Lanka—a non-Muslim-majority state and one of the six key island nations in the IOR—that suggest a more comprehensive regional recalibration. Few have noted that Turkey has played a significant role in modernising Sri Lanka's naval capabilities—a point acknowledged by Jayasekara. Since 2021, Ankara has sought to intensify defence cooperation with Colombo, even as its partnerships with Pakistan and Bangladesh drew the spotlight in New Delhi. Today, both Sri Lanka and Turkey describe each other as 'extremely valuable allies,' signalling a strategic convergence that goes beyond defence. For the uninitiated, the six island nations of strategic importance—Sri Lanka, Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Comoros—may be small in landmass but command vast maritime zones. Turkey's growing assertive engagement in this arena shows a shift from identity-based diplomacy to one driven by geopolitical calculus. For India, this should raise concern not just over Turkey's growing presence in its maritime periphery, but also the potential for alignment with China—hinting at a broader strategy to counterbalance India's influence in the Indo-Pacific. But what strategic framework, then, enables NATO-member Turkey to deepen its Asian and Indo-Pacific ambitions? Also read: China's growing influence in Indian Ocean is worrying. It harms the region's stability Turkey's 'Asia Anew' Unveiled in August 2019, Turkey's 'Asia Anew' initiative represents a recalibrated foreign policy approach aimed at leveraging Asia's geopolitical and economic centrality in a multipolar world. Framed around cooperation in diplomacy, trade, education, and culture, 'Asia Anew', at first glance, appears to promote inclusive engagement. Yet beneath its inclusive rhetoric lies a more selective reality—most notably in the defence sector. While Ankara has expanded arms sales to countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh, India—Asia's dominant regional power—has been conspicuously excluded, or rather blacklisted. Economically, Asia represents both promise and peril for Turkey. Although the region constitutes a third of Ankara's global trade, an overwhelming trade deficit—primarily with China—clouds the picture. Through free trade agreements with South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, Turkey seeks to integrate more deeply into regional supply chains. These efforts, bolstered by domestic export incentives, paint a positive economic narrative. However, this is only part of the picture. Strategically, Ankara is attempting a balancing act—strengthening ties with Asian powers while remaining anchored to NATO and the West. Yet internal policy debates reflect a deeper ambivalence. Eurasianists push for closer ties with China, while traditionalists caution against undermining transatlantic relationships. In practice, 'Asia Anew' has not yet produced transformative outcomes. A recent scholarly analysis noted the limited impact of the initiative across East and Southeast Asia, despite its four-year run. Still, Turkey possesses certain diplomatic assets. With 54 missions across Asia and leadership roles in regional forums like the Asian Parliamentary Assembly, Ankara has institutional tools to deepen ties. A thriving defence industry is another tool. Localised successes—especially in defence-industrial cooperation with Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and others—hint at important footholds if not yet strategic breakthroughs. From India's perspective, Turkey's narrative of 'shared Asian values' often rings hollow. Ankara's open alignment with Pakistan—especially its 360-degree support during Operation Sindoor and on the Kashmir issue—has significantly damaged its credibility in Indian policy circles. Far from appearing as a neutral, cooperative actor, Turkey increasingly looks like a state pursuing selective partnerships shaped by rivalry, not regional harmony. Ultimately, 'Asia Anew' is neither an empty slogan nor a fully realised strategy. It is a fluid, opportunistic framework—one that enables Ankara to frame its geopolitical ambitions under the broader guise of multipolarity. For New Delhi, this selective engagement raises red flags, as it reflects less a genuine Asian convergence and more a calculated attempt to reshape regional alignments—often in ways that directly challenge Indian interests. A subset of Asia Anew still requires separate mention. Also read: Amid Red Sea crisis and China's belligerence, Indian Ocean countries agree to keep zone stable Turkish presence in the IOR Turkey's push for indigenous defence production has allowed it to reduce dependency on its traditional Western allies and expand its strategic autonomy—especially in emerging geopolitical theatres. Remember that the Indian Ocean links Africa and Asia through an extensive network of Pacific waterways and ports. Turkey's growing defence exports have made significant inroads into Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and parts of the Horn of Africa, where Ankara's influence is increasingly visible. Somalia, in particular, exemplifies this transformation. With strong political and military agreements in place, Turkey is cementing its presence in the Horn and Red Sea regions—areas of vital strategic interest for India. Notably, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Somalia is witnessing increased Turkish naval activity, and discussions are underway for establishing a missile and space rocket test site there. This would not only bolster Ankara's long-range missile capabilities but also mark its entry into the global space arena—further enhancing its defence export appeal. In parallel, Turkey is extending its reach into the other sides of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as well. In 2024, the Maldives signed a major drone deal with Ankara and hosted the Turkish warship TCG Kinaliada, at a time when its relations with India were severely strained. This follows six Turkish naval visits to Sri Lanka within a single year—an engagement largely overlooked in Indian strategic discourse. While India's defence circles have monitored Turkey's growing alignment with Pakistan, they have not registered the broader, more subtle but steady encroachment occurring across the IOR. With India's strategic mindset still largely fixated on countering China, Turkey's growing regional assertiveness has slipped under the radar. Strategic discourse in India is still focussed on counterbalancing Turkey by deepening ties with Greece and Cyprus. While that is important, it may not be enough. Operation Sindoor may have been a turning point. The operation helped spark a more vigilant approach within Indian security circles toward regional developments. Turkey's emergence as a disruptive actor and potential arch-rival in India's maritime periphery should not be underestimated. The lack of peer-reviewed research or robust media engagement on this topic has been a strategic blind spot. If India fails to rigorously assess Ankara's evolving role in its near and extended backyard, it risks being encircled on yet another front. A comprehensive strategic review is no longer optional—it is imperative. Swasti Rao is a consulting editor at ThePrint and a foreign policy expert. She tweets @swasrao. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
India.com
22-05-2025
- Business
- India.com
Turkey pays heavy price for supporting Pakistan, Erdogan's daughter loses Rs 2500 crore in just one day due to....
Turkey pays heavy price for supporting Pakistan, Erdogan's daughter loses Rs 2500 crore in just one day due to.... In the midst of India-Pakistan tension, Turkey had openly supported Pakistan with drones to attack India. Apart from this, Turkish Navy had also sent its warships in support of Pakistan. However, after the military conflict that lasted for 4 days, ceasefire was declared, after which India decided to boycott Turkey completely. Conflict with India will cost heavily to Turkey, not just as a country but also at personal level. Under this, Indian traders decided not to ask for things like marble, apples from Turkey. Apart from this, Indian tourists also cancelled their plans to go to Turkey. Celebi, a major ground handling company of Turkey, which had been providing services in India for years, has now become the center of controversy. India has cancelled the services of this company in view of national security. Turkey had invested heavily in airport operations in India. Due to a decisive decision of the Indian government, the company suffered a loss of ₹ 2,500 crores in just two days. Sumaya Erdogan, daughter of Turkish President Erdogan, also has a stake in Celebi. In this way, his daughter has also suffered a big blow. After this decision, the company's shares fell by about 20 percent in the Turkish stock market. The company closed at 2,224 Turkish Lira on the Istanbul Exchange, which was a decline of about 10 percent from the previous record. This made it clear how much dependence the company had on India. The company challenged the decision of the India in the court and filed a petition in the Delhi High Court. During the hearing, government lawyer Tushar Mehta told the court that this decision is related to the national security of India. The court made it clear that the security of the country is paramount and the court cannot give any such order which compromises the security. India's alternative strategy After the suspension of service, Indian airports are now turning to domestic companies like Air India Sats and TATA Group. This has not only benefited Indian companies but is also considered an important step towards self-reliance. India made it clear that it is limiting trade relations with Turkey and has given the same message to its strategic partners like France. It is worth mentioning that recently a symbolic incident of relations between French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkey also made headlines in the media.
