Ambassador Ali Murat Ersoy presenting a copy of his credentials to H.E. Anshuman Gaur, Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of External Affairs.
| Photo Credit: X@TC_YeniDelhiBE

In the backdrop of tension with Turkiye, the protocol division of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday (May 15, 2025) postponed the credentials ceremony of the new Turkish ambassador to India. The MEA, in a brief announcement, said, “the credentials ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan which was to be held today has been deferred due to scheduling issues.”

The postponement of the event came as a surprise, said a diplomatic source who was informed just minutes before the event was to take place. Apart from Turkey’s ambassador Ali Murat Ersoy, Bangladesh’s new High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah and the envoys of Thailand, Costa Rica, St Kitts and Nevis were to present their credentials to President Droupadi Murmu in the ceremony that was postponed.

Mr. Ersoy took charge in March after Turkey’s previous envoy Firat Sunel was transferred back to Turkey. Mr. Ersoy earlier presented a copy of his credentials to Chief of Protocol Anshuman Gaur on April 4. The ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan is part of the formal diplomacy that India-based head of missions are expected to attend as they represent their head of government to the Indian state.

One of the relevant diplomatic missions said the event was fixed at least 10 days in advance and said such a pre-fixed credentials event was rarely postponed. Official sources however refused to pin the postponement to the ongoing difficulties in India’s relation with Turkey that was impacted after Ankara delivered military support to Pakistan even as India launched Operation Sindoor bombing nine terror hubs spread across Pakistan.