New Delhi — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended his congratulations to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his recent election victory, highlighting India’s commitment to continue cooperation with Turkey over global issues.
PM Modi tweeted, “Congratulations @RTErdogan on re-election as the President of Türkiye!”.
The Indian premier also expressed his desire to strengthen the bilateral ties between India and Turkey, and to work together on issues of mutual interest.
“I am confident that our bilateral ties and cooperation on global issues will continue to grow in the coming times”, he said.
President Erdogan won a resounding victory in Turkey’s presidential elections held on May 14th, securing a third term in office with over 52.14% of the vote.
The election campaign was marked by a fierce debate over Turkey’s future direction, with Erdogan’s opponents accusing him of authoritarianism and curtailing civil liberties.
However, the Turkish President dismissed the criticism, arguing that his policies were necessary to maintain stability and security in a volatile region.
Modi’s congratulatory message comes at a time when India and Turkey have been working to strengthen their ties, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.
In recent years, India and Turkey have signed several agreements aimed at boosting economic cooperation, including a bilateral trade agreement and an investment protection pact.
Both countries have also been keen to enhance cultural and people-to-people ties, with the Turkish government recently announcing plans to establish a cultural center in New Delhi.
In February, PM Modi instructed his office to offer all possible support to deal with the earthquake in Turkey. Later, the picture of Turkish woman tightly hugging an Indian female military officer, won the hearts.
Modi’s message of congratulations is likely to be welcomed by Erdogan and his supporters, who have been keen to highlight the international support for the Turkish President’s reelection.
Erdogan has faced criticism from some quarters for his crackdown on political opponents and the media, as well as his controversial policies on issues such as Syria and the Kurdish minority in Turkey.
With Modi’s message of congratulations, Erdogan can now add another high-profile endorsement to his list of international supporters.
