JNU suspends MoU with Turkish university, citing national security concerns

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has suspended its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Inonu University in Turkey until further notice, citing rising tensions between India and Turkey.

“Due to national security considerations, the MoU between JNU and Inonu University, Türkiye, stands suspended until further notice,” the university said in a post on X.

“JNU stands with the nation. #NationFirst,” it added, tagging top constitutional and government authorities, including the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister.

In a separate statement, JNU Vice-Chancellor Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit clarified that the MoU was similar to other academic collaborations the university has undertaken.

“JNU has suspended the MoU due to national security considerations, as JNU stands with the nation and the armed forces, many of whom are JNU alumni,” Pandit said.

The agreement with Inonu University, located in Malatya, Turkey, was signed on Feb 3 for a duration of three years.

It aimed to promote academic cooperation, including joint research and student exchange programs.

JNU currently maintains academic MoUs with 78 universities worldwide.

Meanwhile, the geopolitical developments appear to have affected travel trends, with Indian tour aggregators reporting a surge in cancellations for travel to Turkey and Azerbaijan.

MakeMyTrip said that cancellations for these destinations rose by 250%, while EaseMyTrip noted a 22% spike for Turkey and 30% for Azerbaijan.