A senior Kremlin official announced on Wednesday that Turkey, a member of NATO, has expressed interest in joining the BRICS bloc of developing economies. Yuri Ushakov, President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs aide, revealed that Turkey has formally applied for full membership in the bloc that is currently chaired by Russia. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has previously stated Turkey’s aspirations to join the BRICS alliance, although an official confirmation of the application has not been made.
The BRICS alliance, initially formed in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, has recently expanded to include countries like Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has shown interest in joining, while Azerbaijan and Malaysia have already submitted formal applications. The primary goal of BRICS is to strengthen the influence of major emerging economies to counter the dominance of the Western-led global order by advocating for a fairer world order and reforms in international institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and World Bank.
Erdogan, holding power in Turkey for over two decades, has been steering the country toward a more independent foreign policy and seeking to boost its global influence. In light of stalled negotiations for European Union membership, Turkey is looking to cultivate relations with both Eastern and Western nations simultaneously. Despite joining NATO in 1952 and initiating EU accession talks in 2005, Turkey’s progress has been hindered by concerns regarding democratic backsliding under Erdogan’s leadership and ongoing disputes with EU member Cyprus, among other challenges.
A meeting scheduled for next month in Russia will involve discussions within BRICS about potential new member states. Russian President Putin has expressed support for Turkey’s desire to affiliate with the alliance, emphasizing Moscow’s readiness to collaborate closely to address shared challenges. Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed Turkey’s interest in joining BRICS, aligning with the country’s strategic efforts to diversify its international relationships.