Turkey has officially submitted a request to join the BRICS group of emerging market nations, according to a statement made on Tuesday by Omer Celik, the spokesman for Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). The announcement marks a significant step in Turkey’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its global alliances.
“Our president has many times stated that we want to become a BRICS member… The process is now under way,” Celik confirmed during a news conference.
BRICS, originally an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, and China, was established as an international forum in 2009. South Africa joined the group in 2010, and more recently, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates have also become members, reflecting the group’s expanding influence. The BRICS bloc positions itself as a counterbalance to the US and Western-dominated global order.
Despite Turkey’s bid to join BRICS, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized in June that this move does not signal a shift away from Turkey’s other international commitments, including its ongoing candidacy for membership in the European Union.
The request to join BRICS underscores Turkey’s broader foreign policy strategy to diversify its international partnerships and play a more prominent role in global economic and political affairs.
