Turkey

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has urged the Union Government to raise import duties on apples in response to rising imports from Turkey that are undercutting domestic producers. In a meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Sukhu emphasized the adverse impact on Himachal's apple economy and also sought fiscal support for the hill state. Key demands included an increase in the borrowing limit for special category states and greater financial flexibility.

Tensions between geopolitics and infrastructure development surfaced in India this week after Madhya Pradesh’s Urban Development and Housing Minister, Kailash Vijayvargiya, directed the cancellation of metro contracts involving any Turkish company. His comments came amid rising diplomatic strains between India and Turkiye, following the latter’s vocal support for Islamabad during the recent Operation Sindoor.

Amid escalating geopolitical frictions, an influential fruit growers’ association from Himachal Pradesh has called for a complete ban on apple imports from Turkiye, citing Ankara’s recent political alignment with Pakistan. The Himachal Fruit Growers Samyukt Manch submitted memoranda to India’s top leadership, urging swift action against what it describes as an economic and national security concern.

In the wake of Turkiye's vocal support for Pakistan during the recent Operation Sindoor conflict, jewellers in Lucknow have imposed a self-declared boycott on all Turkish-origin jewellery. Once a popular commodity—particularly during the recent Akshay Tritiya festival—Turkish jewellery has now been pulled from shelves as a form of economic protest. This local commercial response reflects a broader national sentiment, as diplomatic tensions between India and Turkiye escalate.

A battle is brewing in India’s aviation sector as Air India challenges rival IndiGo’s deepening partnership with Turkish Airlines, citing both commercial disadvantages and geopolitical sensitivities. The dispute centers on IndiGo’s wet lease and codeshare agreements, which Air India claims benefit Turkey disproportionately while undermining India's domestic carriers. The controversy intensifies against the backdrop of deteriorating India-Turkey relations, prompted by Ankara’s vocal support for Pakistan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced he will not personally attend the upcoming peace negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, a summit also absent of Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump. Ukraine’s delegation will be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov alongside senior military and intelligence officials. Zelenskyy criticized Russia’s delegation, accusing Moscow of undermining the process and called for intensified sanctions. Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed its delegation will be headed by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky.

Adani Airport Holdings has formally ended its ground handling agreements with Turkish aviation firm Celebi at the Mumbai and Ahmedabad airports following the revocation of the latter’s security clearance by the Indian government. The termination, announced on Thursday, is aimed at ensuring compliance with national regulations while maintaining uninterrupted airport operations. All ground handling services will now be managed by alternative agencies selected by Adani, with existing Celebi employees absorbed under current employment terms.

Amid rising nationalistic sentiment in the wake of Operation Sindoor, Indian travelers are increasingly canceling plans to visit Turkey and Azerbaijan. Online travel platform MakeMyTrip has reported a staggering 60% drop in bookings and a 250% spike in cancellations to both countries over the past week. The downturn follows widespread calls on social media for a travel boycott, citing the two nations' perceived support for Pakistan.

Amid mounting geopolitical friction, the Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has issued a nationwide call urging over 700 trade associations in Delhi to sever commercial ties with China and Turkey. Citing both countries’ antagonistic stance on issues central to India’s national interest—particularly the Indo-Pak conflict—CTI has emphasized the need to reduce economic dependency on foreign powers that fail to align with India’s strategic priorities.