The Turkey has officially requested to join the BRICS, according to well-informed sources cited by Bloomberg. The group of BRICS states consists of emerging economies and includes, among others, China and Russia.
As mentioned in the related publication of the American outlet, the view of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government is that the geopolitical center of gravity is gradually shifting away from the developed economies of the planet. Therefore, this diplomatic initiative reflects Turkey’s ambitions both to cultivate ties with all sides in a multipolar world and to continue fulfilling its obligations as a key member of NATO.
Turkey, which has been balancing between Europe and Asia in recent years, submitted its application for BRICS membership a few months ago, amid frustration over the lack of progress in its decades-long effort to join the European Union, the sources reported. The Turkish candidacy for BRICS is also related to issues that have arisen with other NATO members due to Ankara’s close ties with Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the presidency declined to comment.
“Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious, and effective country if it improves its relations with the East and the West simultaneously,” Erdoğan said in Istanbul over the weekend. “Any other method besides this will not benefit Turkey, but harm it,” he added.
The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa as founding members, now includes some of the largest emerging economies. It gained four new members in early 2024, with the accession of Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
The potential further expansion of the BRICS group could be discussed during a summit in Kazan, Russia from October 22 to 24. Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey’s close ally, Azerbaijan, are among other countries wishing to join.
The BRICS group is presented as an alternative for states that wish to avoid “Western-dominated institutions,” such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. New members could potentially gain access to funding through the group’s development bank while simultaneously expanding their political and trade relations.
It is recalled that Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party has for years accused the West of seeking to limit Turkey’s ambitions for a self-sufficient defense industry and a strong economy. The Turkish president has repeatedly called for a revision of the United Nations Security Council to expand its five permanent members and has expressed interest in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, established by Russia and China as a potential rival to NATO.