Turkish expert: Azerbaijan - BRICS "gateway" to West

Associate professor at Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University Levent Ersin Oralli has said that from the BRICS perspective, there are only two countries to which the term "stability" is most applicable: China and Azerbaijan.

“If BRICS countries aim to strengthen their relations with the West, Azerbaijan, with its robust economy and high-level diplomatic ties with numerous countries worldwide, is the most suitable platform for this endeavor,” Oralli told CGTN channel, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

He noted that Azerbaijan has all the potential to become a key player in BRICS' relations with the West, and Baku's role in this regard will only continue growing.

The expert emphasised that modern Azerbaijan is a victorious state, having restored its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"Azerbaijan is a country that is reestablishing dialogue with Iran and has a charismatic leader who receives Russian President Vladimir Putin," Oralli noted.

He also drew attention to the situation in BRICS member states.

"Tehran and Moscow have serious relations with the West, which are unlikely to be resolved in the near future. There are domestic political problems in Egypt and the UAE, and Ethiopia continues having disagreements with Somalia. Therefore, Azerbaijan is the only 'gateway' for BRICS to engage with the Western world," he noted. 

He recalled that the idea behind the creation of BRICS in 2006 was to challenge a world order dominated by Western hegemony.

"Today, BRICS represents an economic model that unites nine countries and controls two-thirds of global trade. By expressing its readiness to align itself with BRICS nations, Azerbaijan is pursuing objectives far more significant than just the restoration of territories liberated from Armenian occupation. Baku is demonstrating its determination to oppose Western imperialism and support the vision of a multipolar world," the Turkish expert stated.

In his view, by applying to join BRICS, Azerbaijan signaled that its future economic development will align with the strategic direction of this organisation. The associate professor expressed confidence that Baku's application to join BRICS will serve as an example and a catalyst for similar moves by other member states of the Organisation of Turkic States. Regarding the likelihood of Türkiye joining BRICS, the expert noted that Ankara would face greater challenges in joining such a bloc due to its close integration and customs agreements with the European Union (EU) and other Western countries.

"Türkiye adheres to certain EU standards, and its exports are largely conducted in dollars and euros. Additionally, Germany remains one of Türkiye's largest markets. As long as Turkish exporters continue prioritising Western markets, a shift in Ankara's economic orientation will be challenging," he pointed out.

Oralli described BRICS as a "serious choice" that requires a "strong single market, similar to the EU, which does not currently exist."

"Until Ankara sees the potential for a strong market and opportunities to attract significant foreign investments, our country will not pursue membership in the organisation. The BRICS members are aware of this as well," he added. 

However, he did not rule out the possibility that developments in the medium term could influence Ankara's position on this issue. Returning to the topic of Azerbaijan's application to join BRICS, the expert highlighted that this platform also holds the potential for resolving disputes among member states.

"For example, BRICS includes Iran. The inclusion of Azerbaijan could facilitate economic rapprochement between the two countries and help remove political barriers at a certain stage," the Turkish expert suggested, citing the EU as an example where economic cooperation paved the way for addressing interstate issues. 

Oralli said that the challenges of the 21st century are significantly different from those of the previous century.

"While in the 20th century, states sought strong alliances in defence and military sectors, today, the focus is on economic cooperation. The 21st century is a time when economic development is becoming increasingly complex, and countries can no longer ignore the challenge posed by Western hegemony," he stated. 

The associate professor expressed the view that if BRICS member states can achieve economic independence or feel secure within the organisation's economic framework, a new global security architecture will emerge.

"Both the SCO and BRICS are important alternatives that Türkiye should consider," he concluded.

BRICS, established in 2006, is an intergovernmental organization that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The group has since expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates.

In 2006, Brazil, Russia, India and China created the BRIC group. South Africa joined in 2010, making it BRICS.

The group was designed to bring together the world's most important developing countries, to challenge the political and economic power of the wealthier nations of North America and Western Europe.