Türkiye explores BRICS membership to harness economic potential Expert opinions

Türkiye's interest in joining BRICS is driven by its aim to tap into the economic opportunities offered by the bloc, analysts have noted.

During an official visit to China in early June, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed Türkiye's pursuit of new cooperation opportunities within platforms like BRICS. Fidan also participated in the bloc's foreign ministers meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 10-11.

" BRICS is likely to dominate the global economy in the coming decades, and Türkiye wants to be a part of the vast opportunities that the bloc presents in a multipolar world," said Ali Oguz Dirioz, an associate professor of international relations at Ankara's TOBB University of Economics and Technology, speaking to Xinhua. 

Dirioz emphasized that Türkiye's involvement could enhance BRICS's significance as it seeks a multipolar world not dominated by superpowers.

"The global economy is increasingly leaning towards the South Pacific region, where growth is significantly higher. Therefore, Türkiye cannot be indifferent to these developments," Dirioz added.

He clarified that any decision regarding Türkiye's potential membership in BRICS would not be at the expense of its relationships with Europe, as Türkiye remains a longstanding member of NATO and European institutions.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is slated to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, on July 3-4, where Türkiye, as an observer state, has previously expressed interest in becoming a full member.

Erdogan's participation in both the SCO summit and the upcoming NATO summit in Washington underscores Türkiye's aspiration for multilateral influence, said Serkan Demirtas, an Ankara-based foreign policy analyst.

Demirtas highlighted that Türkiye's interest in BRICS aligns with its strategy to strengthen ties with Asia and participate actively in multilateral frameworks.

"Türkiye's interest in BRICS is part of an economy-oriented diplomacy that does not want to miss out on the growing economic power of Asia in particular," Demirtas noted.

For political commentator Melih Altinok, Türkiye's constructive relations with both Russia and Ukraine could play a pivotal role in its quest to forge closer ties with BRICS.

"The possible membership of Türkiye, which has proven itself as a unique mediator in the Ukraine crisis and as a bridge between the West and East, would also contribute to BRICS," Altinok commented in a recent column in Daily Sabah.

"A rapprochement between Türkiye and BRICS will benefit both sides," he concluded.