Turkey has formally applied to join the BRICS, according to sources quoted by Bloomberg.
The BRICS group of nations is made up of emerging economies and includes China and Russia, among others.
As stated in the US media report, the view of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government is that the geopolitical centre of gravity is gradually shifting away from the world’s developed economies.
Therefore, this diplomatic initiative reflects Turkey’s ambitions on the one hand to foster ties with all sides in a multipolar world, and on the other hand to continue to fulfil its obligations as a key member of NATO.
Turkey, which has been teetering between Europe and Asia in recent years, applied for BRICS membership a few months ago amid frustration over the lack of progress in its decades-long quest to join the European Union, the sources said.
Turkey’s candidacy for BRICS also has to do with problems that have arisen with other NATO members due to Ankara and Moscow’s maintenance of close relations after the invasion of Ukraine. Turkey’s foreign ministry and presidency declined to comment.
The BRICS group, whose founding members are Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, 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 possible further enlargement of the BRICS group could be discussed during a summit in Kazan, Russia, from 22 to 24 October. Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey’s close ally, Azerbaijan, are among other countries wishing to join.
The BRICS group is being touted as an alternative for states that want to avoid “institutions dominated by the West” such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. New members can potentially access finance through the group’s development bank while expanding their political and trade relations.
Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party has for years accused the West of seeking to curb Turkish ambitions for a self-sufficient defence industry and a strong economy, and has accused the West of seeking to limit Turkey’s ambitions for a self-sufficient defence industry and a strong economy.
The Turkish president has repeatedly called for a revision of the UN Security Council to enlarge its five permanent members and has expressed interest in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, set up by Russia and China as a potential rival to NATO.
