PressSplit
Turkey wants to become a member of the BRICS countries. While Russia welcomes this move, it could be vetoed by another important member.
Ankara – Turkey wants to become a member of the BRICS states. But this has led to a mixed response in the country. While opposition media are critical, Turkish media close to the government are almost euphoric.
Turkey’s membership could be welcome news for the BRICS in the near future, writes the pro-government news agency Anadolu Agency in a report. “Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey controls the important Bosporus and Dardanelles straits that connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean,” the report said. “Ankara’s influence in the Middle East and its growing involvement in Africa could further strengthen the geopolitical weight of the BRICS, analysts say,” the media company continued.
Erdogan wants to join BRICS alliance: Is Turkey moving further away from the EU?
In contrast, the government-critical newspaper Republic President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s plans are skeptical. “Turkey, which is moving further and further away from its goal of full membership in the European Union, is moving closer to eastern and Asian alliances with the government’s preference,” the paper writes. After close contacts with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SOC), Turkey applied for membership in the BRICS group just over a week ago. “It is almost impossible for us to sell an industrial product to China, India or Brazil,” Adnan Dalkiran, chair of the Federation of Industrial Machinery Manufacturers (MAKFED), told the paper. “We export half of our exports to Europe, and 70 percent of our loans are taken out in the West.”
Russia sees opportunities in Türkiye’s membership in BRICS countries
Russia is happy about Turkey’s application for membership in the BRICS countries. The Turkish economy was classified by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as the 17th largest in the world in 2023, with the country’s gross domestic product estimated at just over $1 trillion last year, writes the Russian Passenger. “Turkey’s geographical location directly on the border between Europe and Asia and its control over the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits that connect the Black Sea with the Mediterranean make the country a natural logistical hub for the movement of goods between the global South and the global North,” writes Sputnik.
Turkey’s geostrategic ties could also give the other BRICS members an advantage. “Ankara’s considerable weight in Middle Eastern affairs, where it has long been a key player, and its influence on the African continent could also benefit Turkey’s future allies in the BRICS.”
BRICS countries
The BRICS countries are an association of emerging countries. The acronym is made up of the first letters of the member states Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. With the association, the members primarily want to form a counterweight to the dominance of the West and to other forums of economically strong countries such as the G7. The BRICS countries also want to reduce their dependence on the US dollar as the global reserve currency and are looking for alternatives. Since January 1, 2024, the countries that give the group its name also include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates.
The Russian state news agency writes something similar TASS“This is likely to have an encouraging effect and serve as an incentive for other Middle Eastern countries to follow suit. This is beneficial for regional economic cooperation and integration in the Middle East,” the news agency quoted Han Jianwei, an expert from the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, as saying.
Türkiye’s BRICS membership good for Russia and China
“Joining BRICS will benefit Turkey’s cooperation with China and Russia, as well as the economies of other developing countries, and will help strengthen Turkey’s position as a trade, energy and logistics hub between East and West. At the same time, it is also an alternative for Turkey after its numerous attempts to join the European Union were rejected,” the expert said.
India could block Türkiye’s BRICS membership
However, there is no guarantee that Turkey’s application for membership in the BRICS countries will be accepted. The main reason for this is India, with which Ankara has opposing views on geostrategic issues. “Given the increasing ties between Turkey and Pakistan, India has adopted a negative stance towards Turkey on international issues. After taking a stand in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, New Delhi has made it clear that it is on the side of the latter in the Aegean conflict between Turkey and Greece,” writes the Eurasian Times in an article on July 19, 2024.
The Turkish government recently imposed a comprehensive ban on the export of military equipment to India, one of the world’s largest arms importers. This was in response to India cancelling a shipbuilding contract with a Turkish company in April. (erpe)
