Erdogan to attend BRICS summit in Kazan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has confirmed his attendance at the BRICS summit in Kazan, which is set for October 22-24, 2024.

"The proposal to the Turkish side was handed over, Erdogan accepted it," Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian President, told Russian media, Caliber.Az reports.

In a related development, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov revealed that the timeline for Russian President Vladimir Putin's upcoming visit to Türkiye remains fluid. 

The scheduling is still in the works, with plans evolving as negotiations continue.

Notably, Türkiye has formally requested to join the BRICS alliance, aiming to build new relationships beyond its traditional Western partners.

According to foreign sources, this move is driven by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration, which sees a shift in the global economic balance from developed to emerging markets. The request reflects Türkiye's strategy to engage with multiple global powers while continuing its role as a NATO member. The application follows growing frustration over the slow progress of Türkiye’s long-standing EU membership bid.

Peter Stano, a spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy service, highlighted at a Brussels press conference that Türkiye, even though it's a candidate for EU membership, has the autonomy to decide which international organizations it participates in. He pointed out that Türkiye, like any nation, has the right to determine what is best for itself.

Stano noted that while Türkiye is a candidate country with a customs union and strong trade relations with the EU, it is expected to uphold EU values and obligations under agreements. He stressed that candidate countries should align their foreign policies with EU values and, upon accession, must fully harmonize all their policies, including those related to trade agreements.