India likely to skip Turkey’s National Day events amid strained ties: Report

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

In a quiet yet unmistakable diplomatic signal, the Modi government is likely to stay away from events marking Turkey’s National Day, observed on October 29, News18 reported, citing government sources.

According to the report, instructions have been discreetly communicated to top officials, advising them to avoid participation in Turkish National Day receptions or celebrations. While no public statement is expected, the move reflects continuing strain in India–Turkey ties, which have remained tense since Ankara repeatedly criticised New Delhi’s Kashmir policy and aligned itself with Pakistan at international forums.

News18 reported that New Delhi will not officially acknowledge the decision, maintaining a deliberate diplomatic silence. However, insiders say the message has been “clear and coordinated” across the foreign and security establishment.

The decision is being viewed as a symbolic snub, underscoring that relations between the two countries remain distant even as India expands its strategic footprint in West Asia through frameworks such as I2U2 (India–Israel–UAE–US) and the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), both of which exclude Turkey.

Observers note that the development follows recent remarks by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, critical of India’s domestic policies and his continued support for Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir at international platforms.

Earlier in June 2025, Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Cyprus, his first major foreign trip after Operation Sindoor, was seen as a geopolitical message to Turkey. By backing Cyprus’s sovereignty against Turkish claims in Northern Cyprus, Modi signalled India’s willingness to forge alternative alliances and adopt a more assertive posture toward Ankara.