In Ankara, Turkey, a senior official confirmed reports of the country’s interest in joining the BRICS bloc of developing economies, although formal membership application has not been submitted. Turkey’s desire to join BRICS was emphasized by Omer Celik, the spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, who stated that Erdogan has repeatedly expressed Turkey’s aspiration to become a member of the alliance. While the process is ongoing, there have been no concrete developments regarding Turkey’s membership in BRICS.
BRICS, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China (with South Africa later joining in 2010), has recently seen expansion, welcoming countries like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has shown interest in joining, and Azerbaijan has formally applied for membership. The alliance aims to amplify the voice of the Global South and advocates for a more equitable world order, including reforms within international institutions such as the United Nations, the IMF, and the World Bank.
With President Erdogan steering Turkey’s foreign policy towards greater independence and global influence, the country is increasingly looking to engage with various international platforms. Erdogan emphasized the importance of developing relations with both the East and the West simultaneously, highlighting the need for collaboration with organizations like the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on mutually beneficial terms. BRICS is expected to deliberate on new memberships during an upcoming meeting in Russia.
Turkey, a NATO member since 1952, initiated talks to join the European Union in 2005, yet progress has stalled due to concerns over democratic setbacks under Erdogan’s leadership and ongoing disputes, including with Cyprus. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has mentioned Turkey’s exploration of cooperation opportunities with various partners across different platforms, including BRICS. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, affirmed Turkey’s keen interest in joining the BRICS alliance.
