Turkey has officially applied to join the BRICS group of emerging-market nations, aiming to enhance its global influence and establish new international partnerships beyond its Western allies, Bloomberg reports.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has emphasized the importance of balancing relations with both Eastern and Western powers while remaining a key NATO member. Turkey’s aim in joining BRICS includes improving economic ties with Russia and China, and leveraging its strategic position as a trade hub between Europe and Asia. The application comes amid Turkey’s frustration with its stalled bid to join the European Union (EU) and recent tensions with NATO allies over its close ties with Russia since the Ukraine invasion in 2022.
BRICS, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has recently expanded to include Iran, the UAE, Ethiopia, and Egypt, with Malaysia, Thailand, and Azerbaijan expressing interest. The group serves as a counterbalance to Western-dominated institutions like the World Bank and IMF and offers potential economic benefits through its development bank.
