Turkey Officially Applied to Join Pro-Russian BRICS Bloc

Turkey, which is located between Europe and Asia, applied to join the pro-Russian BRICS grouping several months ago ‘out of frustration’ at the lack of progress in its longstanding attempt to join the European Union, Bloomberg reports. The application is also partly the result of disagreements with other NATO members after Turkey maintained close ties with Russia following its military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the newspaper's knowledgeable sources added. 

Turkey's foreign ministry and presidency declined to comment on Bloomberg's request.

This new diplomatic push by Turkey reflects its desire to develop ties with all sides of the multipolar world, while fulfilling its obligations as a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the newspaper writes.

‘Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious and effective 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 will not benefit Turkey, it will harm it.’

The BRICS group, named after Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, comprises some of the largest emerging economies. 

Earlier this year, the BRICS gained four new members: Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt. 

Saudi Arabia was also invited to join, but the kingdom did not.

The BRICS advertises itself as an alternative to what its members see as Western-dominated institutions, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Further expansion of the pro-Russian BRICS group may be discussed during the summit in Kazan, Russia, on 22-24 October. 

Other countries that could join include Malaysia, Thailand and Turkey's close ally Azerbaijan.