ISTANBUL: Türkiye has discreetly placed a comprehensive ban on the export of arms and defence-related equipment to India, one of the world’s leading weapons importers, to show its support for Pakistan.
The decision, which has major economic and geopolitical significance, was taken in a closed-door session of the Turkish Parliament.
According to the minutes taken at a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee on 10 July, deputy chairman of the Defence Industry Agency, Mustafa Murat Şeker, inadvertently disclosed the government’s secret strategy regarding India.
While describing the issues as sensitive, Şeker told the committee that no single item of military in nature has been approved by the government if the customer is based in India.
Despite concern for any outcomes, the SSB deputy chairman confirmed the ban, said the minutes of the meeting obtained by the Nordic Research Monitoring Network, an organisation that focuses on security, terrorism and military issues.
“India, for example, is one of the world’s top five arms importers, a massive market, importing close to 0 billion. However, due to our political circumstances and our friendship with Pakistan, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not give us positive feedback on exporting any products to India, and consequently, we do not grant any permits to our companies in this regard,” Mustafa Murat Şeker is quoted as saying.
The sale of Turkish defence material requires the green signal from the military, the SSB, and the Foreign Ministry. The minutes show that India has been included in a blacklist of countries to which Türkiye cannot sell military and defence equipment.
The development shows a marked deterioration in ties between the two countries over the past decade. Erdogan’s administration has always supported Pakistan in its disputes with India.
The gap between the two G20 member states has widened over the years. In a previous report, Nordic Monitor shows how Türkiye helped Pakistan in various areas.
The bitterness between Ankara and Delhi does not only concern arms, but also strategic choices in international trade, starting with the disagreement over a proposal by India, the United States, and the European Union at the G20 summit in New Delhi to establish an economic corridor connecting Europe to India by rail and sea routes.
Excluded from this corridor, Türkiye has openly opposed the initiative, which undermines its role as a trade hub and favours Greece and other regional competitors. For this reason, Türkiye supports China’s development plans as part of its Belt and Road Initiative.
