EU expects Türkiye's Erdogan to uphold isolation of Russia at BRICS summit

The European Union anticipates that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye will align with EU policies and contribute to the isolation of Russia during the upcoming BRICS summit.

This assertion was made by EU foreign policy spokesperson Peter Stano, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Stano acknowledged that leaders of countries aspiring to join the EU are free to travel as they see fit. However, he emphasized, "We expect all EU candidate nations to fully embrace the values of the European Union and to act within the framework of the EU's foreign policy, which is focused on isolating Russia."

In addition, American media outlets indicated that the leaders of South Africa and India opted to attend the BRICS summit instead of participating in the Commonwealth of Nations meeting.

The BRICS summit commenced on October 22 in Kazan and will continue until October 24. This gathering marks the first appearance of new member countries.

BRICS, an international coalition, includes five nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024, the group expanded to include Egypt, Iran, the UAE, and Ethiopia. The alliance is increasingly establishing itself as a significant platform for global cooperation, promoting a multipolar world order.

On September 2, Türkiye officially submitted its application for BRICS membership.

Previously, Erdogan stated that Ankara no longer harbours expectations from the European Union regarding Türkiye's accession to the bloc.

"We have no expectations from the European Union, which has kept us waiting for 60 years," Erdogan remarked, highlighting the perceived bias the alliance has against Türkiye.

Erdogan pointed out that Ankara has fulfilled all commitments made to the EU while asserting that the bloc has failed to meet any of its obligations. He insisted that Türkiye would not accept any new demands or conditions for membership.

"If necessary, we can replace the Copenhagen criteria for EU accession with criteria set by Ankara and continue on our path," he concluded.

Türkiye has held candidate status for EU membership since 1999, yet numerous disagreements have arisen between Ankara and the bloc. Official negotiations for Türkiye's entry into the EU began in 2005.

On May 29, 2023, Manfred Weber, leader of the European Parliament's largest faction — the European People's Party — stated that neither the EU nor Türkiye desires the republic's accession, calling for an end to membership negotiations with Ankara.

By Tamilla Hasanova