Congress MP Shashi Tharoor met the Turkish Ambassador to India, Ali Murat Ersoy, on Wednesday. Tharoor said they had an open conversation about the recent tensions between India and Turkey.
Tharoor said that the relationship has become strained and fixing it will take time. He told the ambassador that “major efforts will be needed to overcome the mistrust that has arisen in recent months”. However, he also noted that Ersoy “is determined to improve the lines of communication with our country”.
The Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha MP shared details of the meeting on X (formerly Twitter) with photos. He wrote, “Welcomed the Turkish Ambassador, Mr Ali Murat Ersoy, for a candid and constructive exchange on the recent difficulties and frustrations hampering our two countries’ relations.”
Welcomed the Turkish Ambassador, Mr Ali Murat Ersoy, for a candid and constructive exchange on the recent difficulties and frustrations hampering our two countries’ relations. The Ambassador is determined to improve the lines of communication with our country, but it’s clear that… pic.twitter.com/W20bfybWLo
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 26, 2025
Why have relations been strained between two nations?
India-Turkey relations have been tense for a while. Things worsened after Turkey repeatedly criticised India’s position on Kashmir and supported Pakistan at global platforms. In October, India skipped Turkey’s National Day events on October 29 after senior officials were reportedly advised not to attend.
Ties further deteriorated during Operation Sindoor, when Turkey expressed support for Pakistan. The Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan met Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and called India’s action “India’s unprovoked violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty”.
Operation Sindoor was India’s major counterterror mission to destroy terrorist camps in Pakistan after Pakistan-backed militants killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam.
After these events, many Indians decided not to travel to Turkey. Reports also surfaced that Turkish Songar drones were being used by Pakistan’s army to attack Indian military locations and civilian areas, which added to public anger.
Tharoor also meets Taiwan representative
Besides his meeting with the Turkish envoy, Tharoor also met Mumin Chen, the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Centre in India.
They discussed boosting technology and economic partnerships. Tharoor said he encouraged Chen to look into Taiwanese investment opportunities in Kerala’s growing IT sector. During the meeting, Chen gifted Tharoor a handcrafted painting of a 1930s Taipei street scene.