Turkey has officially applied to join BRICS. According to the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the geopolitical center of gravity is increasingly shifting in favor of BRICS.
The country’s diplomatic moves reflect Erdogan’s ambition to maintain good relations with all sides in a multipolar world while seemingly continuing to fulfill his obligations as a NATO member.
“Turkey can only become a strong, prosperous, respected, and influential country if it improves its relations with both the East and the West simultaneously,” Erdogan said over the weekend in Istanbul.
The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, brings together the world’s largest emerging economies. Earlier this year, the group expanded with four new members: Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt.
The group’s further expansion could be discussed at the summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24. Malaysia, Thailand, and Azerbaijan, a close ally of Turkey, are also among the countries seeking to join BRICS.
Translated and edited by Alex Kada
