Turkey Backstabbed India: Why Erdoğan Chose Pakistan Over India | UPSC Geopolitical case study

Summary

The video delves into the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, driven by Pakistan's use of Turkish-made swarm drones in military operations. It discusses how Turkey's support for Pakistan, despite India’s humanitarian aid during the 2023 Turkish earthquake, is seen as a betrayal. The growing threat of these low-cost drones is highlighted, alongside the shifting alliances in the Muslim world, with Turkey backing Pakistan and Saudi Arabia supporting India. The video warns of a potential ideological Cold War and emphasizes India’s strategic diplomatic efforts to navigate this complex situation.

Takeaways

• 😀 Pakistan and India exchanged military strikes, with Pakistan launching missile attacks and using drones in 36 locations across India.
• 😀 A significant number of the drones used in the attack were Turkish-made, highlighting Turkey's support for Pakistan despite India's previous humanitarian aid to Turkey during an earthquake.
• 😀 India provided substantial aid to Turkey in 2023, but Turkey responded by supporting Pakistan, surprising many given India's previous assistance.
• 😀 Turkish drones, specifically the 'Song' drone, are low-cost yet highly effective, especially when deployed in swarms, making them a significant military threat.
• 😀 Drones like the Turkish 'Song' can cause severe damage even if only a small percentage of them get through, as the cost of shooting them down is far greater than their production cost.
• 😀 The use of drones in warfare, particularly in asymmetrical aerial warfare, changes the economics of military conflict by bankrupting defense systems.
• 😀 India is already beginning to boycott Turkish products and halt Turkish travel bookings in response to Turkey's support for Pakistan.
• 😀 Despite India's retaliation, Turkey has strategically used drones to gain Islamic loyalty in the Muslim world without direct military conflict.
• 😀 Turkey's President Erdogan is pursuing a legacy of leadership within the Muslim world, with a goal of reviving the Ottoman Empire's influence.
• 😀 The geopolitical situation in the Middle East is unstable, with competing Muslim blocks led by nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Turkey, each having different allegiances and ideological stances.
• 😀 Kashmir could become a key battleground in the ideological cold war between these Muslim blocs, making India's diplomatic efforts crucial for regional stability.

Q & A

Why did Pakistan launch a military operation into India?

Pakistan launched a military operation into India by using missiles, as part of a larger conflict across their shared border. Around 300 to 400 drones were deployed to attack 36 locations in India, marking a significant escalation in hostilities.

What was the surprise element regarding the drones used in the attack on India?

The biggest surprise was that many of the drones used in the attack were Turkish-made. This was unexpected because Turkey had previously received aid from India during a natural disaster, leading to a sense of betrayal when Turkey supported Pakistan in the conflict.

How did India support Turkey during the 2023 earthquake, and how did Turkey respond?

India sent rescue teams, doctors, food, medical kits, and shelters to Turkey in the aftermath of the 2023 earthquake. Despite this support, Turkey reciprocated by sending drones to Pakistan, which were used to attack Indian military targets.

Why is Turkey's support for Pakistan seen as controversial in the context of Indian-Turkish relations?

Turkey's support for Pakistan, despite India's significant aid to Turkey during the earthquake, is seen as a betrayal. India had hoped for Turkish neutrality or even support in the conflict but instead faced an attack from Turkish drones.

What role do drones, specifically Turkish drones, play in modern warfare?

Turkish drones, particularly swarm drones, are used in modern warfare to launch large-scale, low-cost attacks. These drones are capable of overwhelming defense systems due to their numbers, making them a significant threat, especially when targeting high-value military assets.

What is the economic impact of Turkish drones in warfare?

Turkish drones are low-cost, but their effectiveness in swarm attacks creates a disproportionate financial burden on the defending side. For example, a single drone can be destroyed using expensive missiles, leading to a situation where defending against multiple drones could bankrupt defense systems.

Why are swarm drones considered a new threat in modern military conflicts?

Swarm drones pose a new threat because they can overwhelm defense systems with sheer numbers. Even if a large number of drones are shot down, the few that get through can cause significant damage, rendering traditional defense strategies less effective.

How did the use of drones in the Russia-Ukraine war illustrate their impact?

In the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia used low-cost drones, which were inexpensive compared to the missiles needed to destroy them. This resulted in an asymmetrical financial burden, where defending against the drones cost significantly more than the drones themselves, making the defense economically unviable.

What is the significance of the Turkish drones being banned from being sold to India in 2024?

In 2024, Turkey banned India from purchasing its drones, further escalating tensions between the two nations. Ironically, India had been exporting drone-making components to Turkey, which were used in the drones that attacked India, highlighting the complex and interconnected nature of global military production.

How are alliances between Muslim-majority countries impacting global geopolitics, especially in the Middle East?

The Middle East is witnessing the formation of competing alliances, with Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt on one side, and Turkey, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan on the other. These shifting alliances are creating instability, and could lead to further conflicts, particularly over ideological differences, as seen in regions like Syria, Yemen, and Libya.

What role does diplomacy play in avoiding conflicts between ideological blocks in the Muslim world?

Diplomacy is crucial in managing conflicts between ideological blocks in the Muslim world. India's strategic diplomacy with nations like Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Iran has helped maintain a balance, preventing direct opposition to India and managing the complex geopolitical situation without escalating to war.