Turkey, also known as Turkiye has formally applied to join the BRICS group of emerging-market nations, signaling its growing frustration with the European Union and its stalled membership bid.
A Bloomberg report first cited sources familiar with the matter as saying that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration submitted the application several months ago.
However, local media reports indicate that the application was submitted in coordination with Azerbaijan's recent bid to join BRICS two weeks ago.
The BRICS bloc, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is seen by Ankara as a strategic platform to expand its diplomatic and economic ties.
The move reflects Turkey's belief that the geopolitical center of gravity is shifting towards emerging economies, particularly in Asia.
The application follows years of slow progress in Turkey’s bid to join the European Union, which began in 2005 but has been marred by various obstacles. Turkey’s close ties with Russia, particularly after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, have further strained relations with its NATO allies.
The BRICS group, which recently expanded to include Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, and Egypt, is expected to discuss further enlargement at a summit in Russia this October.
While Turkey is looking to build new alliances, it has not completely abandoned its EU ambitions.
The application to BRICS likely highlights Turkey’s desire to play a more active role in a multipolar world, balancing its traditional Western ties with new partnerships in the East.
