Turkey aspires to join BRICS, but India continues to block its efforts. Why is this membership so important to Erdoğan?
Turkey continues to aspire to join the pro-Putin BRICS organization instead of the European Union. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan seeks to enhance his political prestige and increase strategic autonomy. However, India's opposition is blocking the application for membership.
This is reported by Bild, which reminds that the Turkish leader submitted his application to join BRICS ahead of the 16th summit of the organization, but New Delhi is obstructing it due to Pakistan, which is its strategic rival and an ally of Ankara.
The President of Turkey aims to strengthen ties with BRICS to boost the "strategic autonomy" of his country. He expresses dissatisfaction with relations with the EU, of which Ankara has been a candidate for membership since 1986.
Moreover, Erdoğan wants to elevate his political standing by showcasing his negotiating abilities both within NATO and BRICS. He also positions himself as a significant player on the international stage. However, critics point out that such maneuvers may lead to Turkey's diplomatic isolation.
Sinan Ülgen, an expert on Turkish foreign policy, told Bild that India is concerned about the strengthening of Turkey's ties with Pakistan. According to him, this complicates the possibility of Turkey's accession.
BRICS Summit
On October 22, 2024, the BRICS summit began in Kazan, Russia, and will continue until October 24. The Kremlin considers this event one of the "largest foreign policy events" in the country. For Putin, this summit presents an important opportunity to address internal conflicts within the alliance, especially between India and China. They have already signed a final declaration.
The summit will feature 36 delegations from states and six delegations from international organizations, including the UN, represented by Secretary-General António Guterres. Among the invited leaders are Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
BRICS, initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has expanded to include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. Currently, BRICS countries account for 45% of the world's population, and the economies of its members exceed $28.5 trillion, representing about 28% of the global economy.
Among the countries expressing interest in joining BRICS is Turkey. According to BILD, Erdoğan was scheduled to meet with Putin on October 23. This visit could heighten tensions for NATO, as Turkey is a member, and the alliance is traditionally seen as an adversary of Russia.
Aslı Aydıntaşbaş, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution, believes that Turkey actually has strained relations with the Kremlin, resembling hostility more than partnership. At the same time, Turkey's economic dependence on Russia remains a significant issue, complicating its prospects in relations with BRICS. Thus, despite Erdoğan's desire to strengthen his country's position on the international stage, he currently faces numerous obstacles in this endeavor.
American analysts believe that Putin aims to use the BRICS summit to bolster the war in Ukraine.