India has firmly dismissed media reports claiming that Turkey has imposed a ban on military exports to India. The Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA) labelled these reports as “disinformation at best.”
At the weekly briefing in New Delhi, responding to queries, Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson of the MEA, clarified, “As far as my knowledge and information are concerned, that information is not good. So, I will refer you to please take that question to the Turkish Embassy who can give you an answer because it is a post which was generated in Turkey. To my understanding, to the best of my knowledge, it is disinformation at best.”
Reports in the public domain had suggested that a Turkish government official disclosed the alleged ban during a closed-door session in their Parliament. It was being speculated that Turkey had effectively blacklisted India for weapons exports in favour of Pakistan, aggravating already strained diplomatic relations between Ankara and New Delhi.
Diplomatic Relations
Diplomatic relations between Turkey and India have been tense over the past decade, primarily due to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s staunch support for Pakistan in its conflicts with India, particularly over the Kashmir issue.
Impact on Defence Production and Contracts
Despite these allegations, New Delhi remains unaffected, having already terminated weapons shipments to Ankara and cancelled a significant naval deal worth US$ 2.5 billion with a Turkish defence company. This move aligns with India’s broader strategy of reducing dependency on foreign defence imports and boosting domestic production.
In 2019, FinancialExpress.com reported on a joint venture being discussed between Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) and Turkey’s M/S Anadolu Shipyard to build Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy. The two sides decided to ink a joint contract in 2020.
However, due to Turkey’s anti-India stance, particularly concerning Kashmir, the Indian government decided to officially exclude the Turkish firm from the project in 2023.
FinancialExpress.com reported earlier this year that HSL is now proceeding with the design work independently, with assistance from a Kochi-based design consultancy firm.
Signed in August 2023, the contract with HSL entails the delivery of five Fleet Support Ships to the Indian Navy, starting from mid-2027.
FinancialExpress.com recently reported that Larsen & Toubro’s Precision Engineering Systems business vertical secured an important contract to construct part of two Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for HSL. These specialized vessels, each exceeding 220 meters in length and with a displacement of approximately 45,000 tons, are crucial for providing logistics and material support to naval task forces at sea.
The construction of these Fleet Support Ships will take place at L&T’s state-of-the-art shipyard in Kattupalli, near Chennai, renowned for its advanced technology and adherence to global standards in maritime engineering. This strategic endeavour not only enhances India’s maritime capabilities but also drives economic growth and technological advancement in the country’s shipbuilding sector, aligning with the national objectives of self-reliance and indigenous defence production.