Turkey is applying to join the Russian BRICS alliance.
At the same time, the country still wants to become a member of the EU.
– The country has a grandiose vision of becoming a great power, says Turkey expert Paul Levin.
Turkey has applied for membership in Brics, according to sources from the Bloomberg news agency. The alliance today includes countries such as Russia, China and India.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, the application must have been submitted a couple of months ago. But the information has not yet been confirmed by the Turkish government or by any other member state.
– Erdoğan has a grandiose vision that “this is Turkey’s century”. There is a pride in establishing yourself as a major power and advancing your positions, says Turkey expert Paul Levin.
“Not quite a Western state”
Turkey’s application to Bricks comes amid frustration over the slow process of joining the EU, according to Bloomberg’s sources. Since 37 years ago, the country has tried to become an EU member.
– This decision underlines that Turkey stands with one leg in NATO and does not fully see itself as a Western state, says Paul Levin.
Brics is named after the abbreviation of five of the world’s largest and growing state economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Since this year, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates are also members.
Strained relationship with NATO
The BRICS application is also a result of Turkey’s rifts with other NATO members after it maintained close ties with Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
– Turkey likes to highlight its disappointment in the West. But believes that membership in Bricks can strengthen contacts with Russia and thereby benefit the US and NATO, says Paul Levin.
But being a NATO member and at the same time allying with countries like Russia and Iran will rather make several nations raise their eyebrows, says Paul Levin.
– There is a great risk that we will see differences of opinion and similar problems that we have seen in the past flare up again.