In a quiet way, Turkey has deepened anti-India axis stretching from Islamabad to Dhaka to Malé. The pro-Pakistan stance on Kashmir in every OIC forum and strengthening military ties with Pakistan is happening in plain sight. Ankara now trains with Pakistan’s air force, conducts joint naval exercises, and gifts drones to the Maldives that routinely fly 12-hour missions within striking distance of India’s nuclear plants and strategic ports.
One of the things I’ve always looked forward to covering in Delhi is the Ministry of External Affairs’ cultural evenings. On the surface such occasions appear to be all about showcasing Indian music, art and food to the capital’s diplomatic corps. However, for those of us who’ve covered foreign policy for a long time, food and music is nice, but the real draw is unguarded conversations that such gatherings offer with several ambassadors, ministers, senior bureaucrats and their aides present in a very relaxed and informal atmosphere.
In one of such gathering, I found myself standing next to a very senior government official. Our conversation drifted, as it so often does at these events, to the subject of security threats facing India. I expected the usual names — Pakistan, China — and those were mentioned without surprise. Then, to my astonishment, he added Turkey and Azerbaijan to the list.
It was about three years ago. At the time it felt like an offhand remark.
A few months ago, that off-the-cuff remark from a diplomatic party suddenly looked like prophecy.
World witnessed that during Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam attack, Turkey’s diplomatic posture was unapologetically with Pakistan. While Turkish President Erdogan was busy issuing solemn statements “condemning” the Pahalgam terror attack and piously calling for “restraint on all sides,” his military-industrial complex was working overtime to tighten the noose around India. Besides helping Pakistan save face at international forums, media reported that Erdogan government also helped Pakistan with Turkish drones, communications equipment and military supplies many of which were reportedly used by Pakistan against India as well.
Turkey is quietly encircling India’s strategic space through the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) and a calculated web of defence exports. The OTS was established in 2009 as the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States, initiated by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan joined in 2019, leading to its renaming as the Organization of Turkic States in 2021. Hungary, Turkmenistan, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are part of the group as Observer members. The OTS’s core mandate is to strengthen peace, stability, and mutual development among Turkic states while preserving shared cultural and historical heritage.
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s role in the OTS has intensified since 2023, shifting from cultural focus to geopolitical and military objectives. In 2024, Turkey and Azerbaijan launched joint drone production. The Turkic Investment Fund targets billions in investments for Central Asia. Erdogan has described the OTS as a “21st-century Turkic power.”
Turkey’s military expansion spans the Middle East, Africa, Caucasus, and Central Asia, leveraging its defense industry for drones and warships. Challenges include NATO frictions, balancing relations with Russia and China, and economic constraints.In South Asia, Turkey has strengthened ties with Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, often countering Indian interests. This includes aggressive messaging on Kashmir and enhanced military cooperation. Following the Pahalgam incident, Turkey condemned the attack but expressed solidarity with Pakistan, deploying naval and air assets. Defense transfers encompass armored vehicles, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs), and joint drills.
Turkey is aiming to position itself as a global leader in drone technology, particularly through Baykar’s Bayraktar series. The Bayraktar TB2, a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) has drawn interest from smaller countries for its affordability (around $5 million per system), ease of use, and battlefield experiences.
In India’s neighbourhood, Turkey’s drones have been bought by Bangladesh and Maldives on the pretext of helping in maritime surveillances but also raising suspicion in Indian security apparatus.
In Bangladesh, procurement agreements for TB2 drones were signed in 2022. The Bangladesh Army operates at least six units, with six more planned. This is part of a broader package deal that also includes at least 15 Turkish weapon types such as armoured vehicles, MLRS, and APCs like the Cobra. These weapons eventually boost ISR and strike capabilities near India’s eastern border concerning, some of the not-so-stable bordering areas of India’s Northeast.
Maldives,in 2024, made deal worth $37 million for procurement of six TB2 drones and a command-and-control station, with some units provided as Turkish grants. These drones, Maldives government said, will enable surveillance over the 900,000 sq km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Within weeks of the drones arriving, the Maldives Air Corps was established on March 15, 2024. Three UAVs were initially deployed at Maafaru International Airport in Noonu Atoll. With their long flight endurances lasting 12 hours from north to south, these drones are also capable of tracking flights near Indian waters. That poses risks to Indian assets, including Kochi, Vizhinjam, and Tuticorin ports. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, and installations like Mahendragiri and INS Kataboman can also come under these drones snooping surveillance.
In a quiet way, Turkey has deepened anti-India axis stretching from Islamabad to Dhaka to Malé. Turkey’s soft power efforts also include Public Broadcaster TRT World that beams anti -India propaganda and runs educational programs via the Maarif Foundation. It also influences the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other Muslim blocs in the world to drive a wedge with India.
The pro-Pakistan stance on Kashmir in every OIC forum and strengthening military ties with Pakistan is happening in plain sight. Ankara now trains with Pakistan’s air force, conducts joint naval exercises, and gifts drones to the Maldives that routinely fly 12-hour missions within striking distance of India’s nuclear plants and strategic ports.
India’s neighbours are systematically turning into zones of Turkish influence and weaponry, all while Ankara cashes in billions from arms deals and delivers sanctimonious sermons on peace and restraint.