India’s Stern Messages to Turkey and China Signal Shift in Geopolitical Posture

Poonam Sharma 

In a week marked by geopolitical messaging and diplomatic recalibration, India has delivered strong public statements to both Turkey and China — signaling not just its growing assertiveness but also a recalibration of its strategic boundaries in the shifting sands of international relations. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), through its spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressed multiple diplomatic developments on May 22, 2025, that reflect New Delhi’s increasingly muscular foreign policy stance.

India to Turkey: Stop Shielding Terrorism

India’s message to Turkey was clear and unequivocal: Ask Pakistan to end its support for terrorism. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated,

“We expect Turkey to strongly urge Pakistan to end its support to cross-border terrorism and take credible and verifiable actions against the terror ecosystem it has harboured for decades.”

This statement didn’t emerge in isolation. It followed increasing concerns in New Delhi over Turkey’s recent geopolitical tilt towards Islamabad, including its past statements condemning India’s strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Furthermore, Turkey’s growing military collaboration with Pakistan — notably its supply of drones used during cross-border skirmishes — has set off alarm bells in South Block.

India’s frustration with Ankara was further underscored by the revocation of security clearance for Çelebi Aviation Pvt Ltd — a Turkish company operating ground-handling services at nine Indian airports. Though the Civil Aviation Security Bureau officially made the decision, it is widely believed to be rooted in broader security and diplomatic concerns. The matter, Jaiswal confirmed, had been discussed with the Turkish Embassy in Delhi.

This marks a critical turning point in India-Turkey ties. Once buffered by shared secular credentials and historical civilizational warmth, relations have been strained by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s vocal support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and growing defense ties with Islamabad.

The message is unmistakable: India will no longer tolerate indirect support for terrorism, even if it comes cloaked in diplomatic niceties or international partnerships.

India to China: Mutual Sensitivity, Not Provocation

In the same briefing, Jaiswal shed light on a significant conversation that took place on May 10 between India’s National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The message to Beijing? India is not looking for war — but will not hesitate to act when its security is threatened.

Jaiswal reiterated,

“Our NSA conveyed India’s resolute stance against cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.”

He further added that the cornerstone of India-China relations must remain “mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual sensitivity” — a gentle but pointed reminder in light of recent border frictions and Beijing’s increasing strategic closeness with Pakistan.

India’s approach to China remains nuanced but firm. While not seeking direct confrontation, New Delhi appears to be drawing sharper red lines. The mention of the Pahalgam attack — an incident reportedly involving Pakistani elements — in conversation with Chinese leadership reflects India’s attempt to draw connections between Pakistan’s actions and its regional enablers, including Beijing.

India’s reference to cross-border terrorism in a discussion with China, not just Pakistan, indicates a strategic messaging shift. It’s a signal that India is no longer compartmentalizing its security issues; it’s holding all relevant actors — including those shielding Pakistan diplomatically or economically — accountable.

Broader Implications for Geopolitics

These statements are more than diplomatic soundbites — they are recalibrations in India’s foreign policy messaging. Let’s unpack their broader implications:

1. India’s Evolving Role as a Security Actor

India’s willingness to call out specific countries for indirect support to terrorism marks a new phase in its international engagement. Rather than issuing generic condemnations, India is naming names — a shift likely inspired by its growing confidence on the world stage as an emerging power with global responsibilities.

2. Strategic Signaling to the Global South

India’s sharp tone toward Turkey — a fellow Global South actor and OIC member — is a message to others in the developing world: ideological solidarity will not shield you if you undermine India’s national security. It’s also a warning to countries attempting to build influence by siding with Pakistan on Kashmir.

3. Growing Alignment with the West

Both messages — to Turkey and China — align India more closely with the geopolitical worldview of the U.S. and its allies. Turkey’s increasing drift from NATO norms and China’s assertive regional behavior have also drawn criticism from the West. India’s assertiveness puts it in alignment with broader democratic consensus on counter-terrorism.

4. Pressure on China-Pakistan Axis

By raising cross-border terrorism with Wang Yi, India has diplomatically nudged China to reconsider its blank-cheque support to Pakistan. It puts Beijing in a delicate position: continue shielding Islamabad and risk further alienation from India and its allies — or start nudging Pakistan toward genuine reform in its terror policies.

 Strategic Clarity in an Age of Multipolarity

India’s messages to Turkey and China this week are not isolated diplomatic remarks — they are markers of a shift toward strategic clarity. With its economic power rising and global alliances deepening, India is positioning itself as a nation that speaks not just for itself, but for a broader regional order based on accountability, security, and sovereign respect.

The era of strategic ambiguity is ending. India, it appears, is no longer content playing defense on the diplomatic field — it is setting the rules of engagement.