Turkey Applies for BRICS Membership

According to Bloomberg sources, Turkey applied to join BRICS several months ago, citing the lack of progress in joining the European Union as the reason, and seeks to enhance its global influence and establish new connections beyond traditional Western allies.

The view of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration is that the geopolitical center of gravity is shifting away from developed economies, according to people who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.

The country’s new diplomatic push reflects its aspirations to build ties with all sides in a multipolar world while continuing to fulfill its obligations as a key member of NATO, they said.

“Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious, and effective country if it improves its relations with the East and the West simultaneously,” Erdogan said in Istanbul over the weekend. “Any method other than this will not benefit Turkey, but will harm it.”

BRICS is an acronym for a group of five major emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. BRICS was formed with the intention of enhancing cooperation and dialogue among major emerging economies.

BRICS expansion has largely been driven by China, which aims to boost its global influence by courting nations traditionally allied with the US.