A 27-Year Shift from Diplomacy to Economic Retaliation: Bharat Hits Back at Türkiye & Azerbaijan

Dr. Kumar Rakesh

In 1998, I was in Türkiye as a member of the official delegation led by President Dr. K. R. Narayanan. At that time, Türkiye’s economy was in poor condition. I still recall how the country was struggling with both economic challenges and terrorism. Yet, Türkiye was unable to stabilize its development process in an integrated and sustained manner.

Over the past 27 years, Türkiye has tried to restore its economic strength but has consistently fallen short. In 2025, its economy remains fragile—now weakened not only by internal mismanagement but also by its alignment with Pakistan, a nation globally known for sponsoring terrorism. Even Pakistan’s own Defence Minister Khawaja Asif openly admitted the country became a “nursery for terrorists” with support from several Western nations. Yet, Türkiye and Azerbaijan continue to support Pakistan’s stance against Bharat, particularly on Kashmir and terrorism. Clearly, any country backing Pakistan is siding with terrorism and its perpetrators.

This isn’t Türkiye’s first interference in Bharat’s internal matters. While there are many such examples, I recall one from 1998 when Turkish President Süleyman Demirel raised the Kashmir issue during a joint press conference with President K. R. Narayanan in Ankara. I directly asked Demirel about Türkiye’s own unresolved issues—like the Cyprus conflict, tensions in the Bosphorus Strait, and disputes with Greece and Syria. He dodged the questions, offering no meaningful reply. That exchange exposed the contradictions in Türkiye’s democratic and diplomatic claims. Interestingly, during the same visit, President Narayanan was conferred an honorary doctorate by Bilkent University.

Ironically, during that same era, many Turkish scholars were deeply interested in Bharatiya texts. They studied the Geeta and Ramayana and expressed admiration for Bhartiya philosophy. But in 2025, this cultural bridge has been replaced by Türkiye’s ideological alliances, choosing politics over shared humanity. Though officially a secular state, over 98% of Türkiye’s population today identifies as Muslim.

For Bharat, this turning point came when Türkiye and Azerbaijan chose to side with Pakistan—despite Bharat’s goodwill in times of crisis. This shift triggered a nationwide backlash in Bharat, not as a government directive, but as a people-driven economic and emotional boycott.

Türkiye, which received over 250 tonnes of aid and personnel from Bharat during its devastating 2023 earthquake under “Operation Dost,” is now seen as having turned its back. For many Bhartiya, that betrayal cuts deep.

Fallout Begins: Celebi Stock Crashes, Security Clearance Revoked
On May 14, Celebi Aviation, a Turkish firm handling ground services at key Bhartiya airports, saw a 10% stock drop after Bharat’s Ministry of Home Affairs revoked its security clearance over national security concerns. The message was clear: Bharat will not tolerate entities from hostile nations operating in sensitive infrastructure.

The Consumer Response: Boycotts and Cancellations Nationwide
Citizens across Bharat cancelled travel plans to Türkiye and Azerbaijan, refused to buy Turkish goods, and even discarded Turkish apples and décor products. Tour bookings to Türkiye plummeted 60% in a single week. In 2023, Türkiye hosted over 230,000 Bhartiya tourists—a vital stream for its $40 billion tourism economy.

Retailers in Gujarat and Punjab reported an 80% fall in Turkish apple sales. In Pune, dry fruit import orders worth ₹10,000 crore were cancelled. In Udaipur, Turkish marble orders worth ₹5,000 crore were scrapped—previously, Turkiye held a 70% share in that market.

MP Praveen Khandelwal and CAIT’s Economic Pushback
On May 15, BJP MP and CAIT General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal announced a nationwide campaign to boycott Türkiye and Azerbaijan economically. “No country that insults Bharat’s sovereignty and supports terrorism should benefit from our markets,” he stated. The move blocked ₹5,000 crore worth of Turkish marble imports and prompted mass withdrawal of Turkish goods from Bhartiya stores.

Universities Sever Ties
Several leading Bhartiya universities—including Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Sharda University—have cancelled their Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Turkish institutions. This marks a formal academic boycott, severing cultural and educational ties as well.

Trade and Economic Implications
In 2023, Bharat–Türkiye trade was valued at $12.6 billion. Bharat exported $8.2 billion in goods like textiles and medicines, and imported $4.4 billion worth of machinery, marble, and fruit. Trade with Azerbaijan stood at $1.6 billion. With Bharat now reassessing long-term energy and infrastructure ties, both economies could face significant losses.

Why This Betrayal Stings
The anger is rooted in hypocrisy. Bharat offered generous disaster relief in 2023, only to see Türkiye back a known terror sponsor in 2025. Political loyalty was prioritized over past kindness. For many Bhartiyas, this crosses a moral line.

The Atatürk Irony: A Street in Delhi

There was once a prominent Turkish leader, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk—highly respected in his era, even by Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Known as the founding father of modern Turkiye, Atatürk introduced sweeping reforms in the country’s social and political spheres. Yet, despite his stature, Atatürk never visited Bharat. Still, a major road in the heart of Delhi is named in his honour.

That same Türkiye has long engaged in anti-Bharat rhetoric, consistently opposed Bharat on the Kashmir issue, and today acts as Pakistan’s most vocal backer aside from China. It has even tried to form a pan-Islamic coalition opposing Bharat’s interests.

A road in our capital named after such a nation’s leader now feels like a mockery of our sovereignty. That name should be changed—and must be changed.

Beyond Nationalism: Bharat’s Global Maturity
While some fear this movement may slip into blind nationalism, it is largely seen as a strategic assertion of Bharat’s self-respect. In 2025, Bharat is no longer seeking approval—it demands mutual respect.

Redrawing Global Lines
This moment is not just about Türkiye or Azerbaijan. It’s about how Bharat now defines its foreign relations—with clarity, with conviction, and with power. No longer a silent observer, Bharat is the narrator of its own global story.

When 1.4 billion voices speak with one resolve, economies shudder, narratives shift, and geopolitics realigns.

This boycott is not hate—it is consequence.

This is New Bharat in the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Bhai Modi—on the firm and purposeful path to Viksit Bharat @2047.

 

About Author -:

Dr. Kumar Rakesh, Sr Journalist, Author, Political Analyst, Poet, Broadcaster has been active in Journalism, Media & Communications more than 37 years at national & global level. He has worked in Times of India group, Hindustan Times Group, Indian Express group, Dainik Bhaskar Group like many esteemed media organizations in Bharat and has been instrumental in creating more than 9 TV news channels in the country. Through his career, he has had the opportunity to travel to over 50 countries with many Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers & others with reporting and writing. He has engaged in many research projects related with history, politics & global media advocacy for Bharat. Dr. Rakesh has received numerous accolades and honours both in Bharat and internationally for his contributions to the field of Media, Communications, Global Media Advocacy & culture. Currently, he has been serving as the Editorial Chairman of Global Governance News Group & Samagra Bharat Media Group, New Delhi with associates in more than 20 countries. contact-krakesh8@gmail.com