News Article: Credentials Ceremony Postponed Amidst Tensions with Turkey
In the backdrop of ongoing tensions with Turkey, the protocol division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has postponed the credentials ceremony of the new Turkish ambassador to India. The MEA announced the delay due to scheduling issues.
The postponement came as a surprise, with a diplomatic source informed just minutes before the event was scheduled to take place. The ceremony, which was to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, was to include the credentials of the new Turkish ambassador, Ali Murat Ersoy, as well as those of Bangladesh’s new High Commissioner, Riaz Hamidullah, and envoys from Thailand, Costa Rica, St. Kitts and Nevis.
Mr. Ersoy took charge in March after Turkey’s previous envoy, Firat Sunel, was transferred back to Turkey. He had previously presented his credentials to Chief of Protocol Anshuman Gaur on April 4.
The credentials ceremony is part of the formal diplomacy that India-based head of missions are expected to attend, representing their head of government to the Indian state. One relevant diplomatic mission said the event was fixed at least 10 days in advance and rarely postponed.
The postponement has raised questions about the impact of ongoing difficulties in India’s relations with Turkey, which was impacted after Ankara delivered military support to Pakistan, even as India launched Operation Sindoor against nine terror hubs in Pakistan.
The credentials ceremony was originally scheduled for May 15, 2025, and the event was to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
