Rutte: Türkiye's BRICS cooperation compatible with NATO membership

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Türkiye's collaboration with BRICS nations does not conflict with its NATO membership. 

Speaking at a press conference during his visit to Estonia, Rutte emphasized that Türkiye is entitled to engage with partners in the BRICS bloc, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We are 32 democracies in NATO, and there will always be discussions on various topics. However, we recognize that Türkiye is engaging with BRICS partners, and it has every right to do so," Rutte remarked when asked if NATO had concerns over Türkiye's growing ties with BRICS.

In early September, it was announced that Türkiye had formally applied for membership in BRICS.

Originally formed in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, BRICS expanded to include South Africa in 2011. As of January 1, 2024, Egypt, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Ethiopia have also joined, enhancing the group's influence.

This year, Russia is chairing BRICS, with a busy agenda that includes over 200 planned events. A key highlight is the ongoing summit in Kazan which will celebrate the inclusion of the new member states and reinforce BRICS's role in promoting stability and collaboration in a rapidly changing global environment. This summit is expected to be the flagship event of Russia's presidency in BRICS.

For the first time, the summit includes the participation of new BRICS members, as the organisation expanded to include five additional countries in January 2024. 

During a gathering of Justice and Development (AK) Party officials in Ankara, Erdogan expressed his belief that the ongoing BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, will be pivotal in strengthening Türkiye's ties with the bloc.

By Tamilla Hasanova