ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A senior official confirmed a report Tuesday that Turkey wants to join the BRICS bloc of developing countries but did not declare that the NATO country had formally applied for membership.
Bloomberg news agency reported Monday that Turkey had formally applied to join the BRICS several months ago. Asked about the report, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, said Erdogan has stated “several times” that Turkey aspires to join.
“Our request on this issue is clear. This process is ongoing. But there is no concrete development in this area,” Celik told reporters. “Our president has clearly indicated that Turkey wants to participate in all major platforms, including BRICS.”
The BRICS alliance was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, but has recently undergone a major expansion to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has said it is considering joining, and Azerbaijan has formally signed up.
BRICS has a stated aim to amplify the voice of the Global South. Its founders have called for a fairer world order and the reform of international institutions such as the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank.
Erdogan, who been in power for more than two decades, has tried to create a more independent foreign policy for Turkey and increase its global influence. The country has also been frustrated by the lack of progress in the accession negotiations with the European Union.
Last week, Erdogan said that Turkey should develop relations with both the East and the West “simultaneously.”
“We don’t have to choose between the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,” Erdogan said in reference to the regional cooperation organization established by China and Russia. “On the contrary, we should develop our relations with these and other organizations on a win-win basis.”
The BRICS are expected to discuss the inclusion of new members at a meeting in Russia next month.
Turkey, which straddles Europe and Asia, joined the NATO military alliance in 1952. It began talks to join the European Union in 2005, but negotiations have stalled amid concerns about democratic backsliding under Erdogan’s rule and ongoing disputes with Cyprus, an EU member, among other challenges.
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Turkey was “exploring new opportunities for cooperation with various partners on different platforms, such as the BRICS.”
On Monday, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, also said that Turkey has shown interest in joining the BRICS countries.
