Western analysts shed light on Türkiye's drive to join BRICS

Türkiye's decision to pursue BRICS membership reflects its growing disillusionment with the West and the European Union (EU), according to an unnamed former Turkish diplomat.

He told the foreign media outlet that Ankara's interest in joining BRICS is fueled by "accumulated disappointment" with its Western and EU partners, Caliber.Az reports.

Sinan Ulgen, head of the Istanbul-based think tank EDAM, echoed this sentiment, suggesting that Türkiye’s move is driven by a desire to strengthen ties with non-Western countries, particularly in light of the United States’ waning global dominance.

Ulgen emphasized that Türkiye's potential membership in BRICS would not impact its role in NATO, as the organization is primarily economic rather than security-focused. "It is mainly an economic organization, so it will probably affect its relations with the EU more than with NATO," Ulgen noted.

On September 2, Türkiye officially applied to join BRICS, which currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with new members Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt. Saudi Arabia has also been invited to join, though it has yet to accept.

The topic of BRICS expansion is expected to be discussed at the upcoming summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 22-24, with countries like Malaysia, Thailand, and Azerbaijan also expressing interest in joining.

Sources indicate that Türkiye sees BRICS membership as a way to bolster economic cooperation with Russia and China while positioning itself as a key trade link between the EU and Asia and as a hub for gas exports from Russia and Central Asia.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly advocated for reforming the United Nations Security Council to include more permanent members beyond the current five — Great Britain, China, Russia, the USA, and France. He has also shown interest in joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a group led by Russia and China as a counterbalance to NATO.