infoBRICS: Turkey aspires to BRICS, as it shares the idea of a multipolar world
Turkey aspires to the BRICS, as it supports the idea of a multipolar world, writes infoBRICS. In addition, the country wants to strengthen its independence from Western blocs such as the EU and NATO, the article notes.
Haryanto Martaja
Earlier this month, the news about Turkey's desire to join the BRICS attracted the attention of the world's media. This aspiration was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during his visit to China. “Of course, we would like to become a BRICS member. Let's see what we can achieve this year,” the minister said, as quoted by the South China Morning Post.
This issue was also discussed at the meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers in Nizhny Novgorod, which was attended by Hakan Fidan. Turkey's desire to join is not new — during the BRICS summit in 2018, which was attended by Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ankara could join the union in 2022. However, due to subsequent events on the world stage, this process was postponed, and Ankara is now showing new interest.
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Why does Turkey want to join the BRICS?
Turkey shows considerable interest in joining BRICS, considering it as an important step towards strengthening its international influence and economic potential. This aspiration is driven by several key factors related to economic, political and geostrategic aspects.
With one of the largest economies in the region, Turkey is striving to diversify its economic ties and strengthen cooperation with rapidly developing countries. Joining BRICS would give Ankara access to a vast market and opportunities to increase trade and investment with the leading economies of the developing world. This is especially important in the context of global economic challenges and uncertainty, when the diversification of partners is becoming a key factor for sustainable growth.
Turkey has repeatedly faced financial difficulties and restrictions imposed by Western financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Joining the BRICS would give Turkey access to a New Development Bank and a conditional reserve mechanism, which would allow it to receive financing on more favorable terms and with fewer political obligations. This is especially important for a country seeking to maintain economic independence and minimize external pressure.
Turkey actively supports the idea of a multipolar world where the balance of power is more evenly distributed between different regions and countries. BRICS stands for multipolarity and fair global governance, which is an attractive platform for Turkey, which seeks to strengthen independence from Western countries and blocs like the European Union and NATO.
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Turkey seeks to join the BRICS for several reasons, including economic development, access to alternative financial institutions, political independence, geostrategic interests, and increased international influence. Joining BRICS would open up new opportunities for Turkey, strengthen its position on the world stage and ensure a more balanced and equal participation in world affairs. It would allow Turkey to play a more active role in the world and contribute to the creation of a balanced global system.
Barriers to Turkey's entry into the BRICS
Despite all the advantages of Ankara's accession to the BRICS, there are serious barriers complicating this process. For example, domestic political realities, economic issues and external pressure from the West.
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Ankara has close military and economic ties with Western countries, which complicates the issue of its joining the BRICS. Turkey's decision to become a member of the association may provoke strong pressure from the United States and its Western allies, who view the BRICS as a threat to their dominance in the international arena.
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However, in the long term, membership in the BRICS opens up new opportunities for Turkey, and, given the transformation of the world order, may allow Ankara to take a strong position in the future. Thus, Turkey will weigh all the pros and cons, trying to extract the maximum benefit for itself. It would not be surprising if the Turkish authorities decide to join the country to the BRICS, since this corresponds to Erdogan's paradigm of pursuing a sovereign foreign policy in the interests of his state.
