New York: Narendra Modi, the master strategist and diplomatic wizard, has outsmarted the Turkish President who supported Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). When the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took sides with Pakistan in Kashmir issue, Modi chose to meet Turkey’s leaders and lend them support in their rivalry with Turkey.
Modi met the President of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, on the sidelines of UNGA. All these countries harbour ill will against Turkey for decades.
During his speech at UN General Assembly, Turkish leader Erdogan made direct reference to Kashmir. He said, “One of the problems to which the international community still does not devote enough attention is the Kashmir conflict, which awaits a solution for 72 years.”
He added, “Kashmiri people to look at a safe future together with their Pakistani and Indian neighbours, it is imperative to solve the problem through dialogue and on the basis of justice and equity and not through collision.”
Erdogan’s support for Pakistan comes after his meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Imran Khan, where they discussed about India’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
However, Narendra Modi, the shrewd politician and well known for his diplomatic acumen hit back by backing Turkish rivals as a punishment for supporting India’s enemy nation.
Cyprus was attacked by Turkey in 1974 and its Northern part conquered and proclaimed as an independent state of Turkish Republic of Cyprus. Modi siding with Cyprus said that India supports the territorial integrity of Cyprus.
Greece is embroiled in a dispute with Turkey over some islets in Aegean Sea and Armenia holds Turkey responsible for one of the worst genocide of the 20th Century when lakhs of Armenians were butchered by Turkey in 1915.
Modi has befriended and supported the three neighbouring rivals of Turkey and outsmarted Erdogan and also Pakistan in their bid to accuse India at the UNGA.
Narendra Modi’s diplomatic victories is a result of his commitment to keep India first and not be dragged down by unnecessary doctrines or ideologies. He has opted realpolitik in his dealings with foreign countries and eschewed the unprofitable ethical and neutral stands.
