Turkey has formally applied to join the BRICS group of emerging market nations as it seeks to boost its global influence and forge new ties beyond its traditional Western allies, according to people familiar with the matter.
The view of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration is that the geopolitical center of gravity is shifting away from advanced economies, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment.
The country’s new diplomatic thrust reflects its aspirations to develop ties with all countries in a multipolar world while fulfilling its obligations as a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the sources told Bloomberg.
Located between Europe and Asia, Turkey applied to join BRICS several months ago amid frustration at the lack of progress in its decade-long bid to join the European Union, the sources added. The bid is also partly the result of disagreements with other NATO members after Turkey maintained close ties with Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey’s foreign ministry and presidency declined to comment.
“Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious and efficient country if it improves its relations with the East and the West at the same time,” Erdogan said in Istanbul over the weekend. “Any other method than this will not benefit Turkey, it will harm it.”
The BRICS group, named after Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, includes some of the largest emerging economies. It gained four new members earlier this year when Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt joined its ranks.
Saudi Arabia has been invited to join, but the kingdom has not yet done so.
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