Evrensel: Turkey's bid for BRICS membership has caused controversy
Turkey's application for membership in the BRICS at a time when the authorities are strengthening relations with NATO seemed to some experts to be an ambiguous step, the author of the article for Evrensel notes. You cannot sit on two chairs at the same time: Turkey will have to make this choice sooner or later.
Turkey's application for membership in the BRICS at a time when the Turkish authorities are strengthening relations with NATO has caused controversy. Associate Professor, Dr. Jeren Ergench, commenting on the events in an interview with Evrensel, noted: "Russia, whose popularity in China has grown due to diplomatic isolation amid the Ukrainian conflict, is taking steps such as inviting Turkey to join the ranks of member states in order not to cede full control over BRICS and SCO to China."
The official statement regarding the Erdogan administration's application for BRICS membership came first from Russia, not Turkey. Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said that Turkey has applied for full-fledged membership and Ankara's request will be considered by the countries of the bloc.
Tan from the RNP: you can't get on two horses at the same time
Namık Tan, a deputy from the Republican People's Party (CHP) of Turkey in Istanbul and former Turkish ambassador to the United States, reacted negatively to the fact that Russia announced the application, and not the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Criticizing Turkey's application for membership in the BRICS, as it contradicts the country's interests in NATO, Tan noted: "You can't get on two horses at the same time."
"Just as as a result of Turkey's purchase of the S-400, we were excluded from the F-35 program, as a result of Ankara's promotion of the Blue Homeland concept, the United States abandoned the Turkey—Greece balance within NATO and Greece — Israel—Egypt — the Greek administration of Southern Cyprus and, perhaps, even France lined up in front of us on the same diplomatic the front. Just imagine the effect of a time bomb from the point of view of our foreign and national security policy, an application for membership in the BRICS will have. If this is true, then Ankara's application to join this bloc is diplomatic madness, an attempt at diplomatic suicide."
Ergench: BRICS has no alternative structure
Commenting on the discussions around BRICS, our columnist, associate professor, Dr. Jeren Ergenç, noted that Turkey's application cannot be considered as a break with the West. "In the end, the BRICS does not have any alternative structure to Western institutions and alliances, which include Turkey," the expert stressed. She continued: "Therefore, Turkey's membership in the BRICS is more symbolic than practical. The current interest in BRICS on the part of the Erdogan government, which had previously shown great interest in the SCO, is due to the fact that BRICS, as part of the previous expansion, accepted the countries of the Middle East — Turkey's close neighbors - into its ranks. In other words, Erdogan's move towards the BRICS is more related to the balances in the region than to any macro-changes in foreign policy, such as closer relations with the global South."
And another factor is Russia, Ergench stressed. "Russia, whose popularity in China has grown due to diplomatic isolation amid the Ukrainian conflict, is taking steps such as inviting Turkey to join the ranks of member states in order not to cede full control over BRICS and SCO to China. Until recently, China did not favor Turkey's accession to these regional organizations, but after the visit of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to China, we can observe an increase in Chinese investments in Turkey. This situation may also change China's perception of Turkey's regional situation," the expert added.
Author: Kyubra Kyrymly (Kyubra Kırımlı)
