BRICS offers Türkiye ‘partner country’ status

BRICS has offered “partner country” status to Türkiye, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced. The move follows Ankara’s reported formal application to join the bloc.

This designation might represent a step in the transition process toward potential full membership, Bolat said during an interview on Wednesday. However, he did not confirm whether Türkiye had accepted the status.

Türkiye’s request for full BRICS membership

In September, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan‘s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) confirmed that Türkiye had initiated an official request to join BRICS as a full member.

The move follows Ankara’s ongoing efforts to diversify its economic and political partnership amid growing discontent with the European Union, its largest trade partner. Tensions with the EU have risen over delays in resuming talks on modernizing the Customs Union Treaty, despite Ankara’s continuing efforts, no progress has been reported so far.

Türkiye’s application to BRICS

In September, Türkiye officially expressed its desire to join BRICS, a group of emerging market nations, signaling a significant shift in its international alliances. Experts suggest that Türkiye’s bid for membership is driven primarily by economic motivations, as the BRICS platform offers opportunities for expanded trade and investment without binding obligations.

But Erdogan also said, “BRICS and ASEAN offer opportunities to enhance our economic cooperation. Being part of these structures does not mean abandoning NATO. We do not view these alliances as alternatives to each other,” Erdogan said.

“Those who say ‘Don’t join BRICS or any other structure’ are the same people who kept Türkiye waiting at the EU’s door for years,” he added.

The bloc, which represents nearly half of the global population and a third of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP), allows member countries to develop economic cooperation while maintaining their sovereignty.

Key points of Türkiye’s application to BRICS

• Economic benefits: BRICS membership could provide Türkiye with access to institutions like the New Development Bank (NDB), which finances infrastructure and sustainable development projects in developing countries. This could be a valuable resource for Türkiye’s large projects.
• Strategic alliances: Joining the BRICS would provide Türkiye with opportunities to forge new international alliances and strengthen relationships, particularly with countries like Iran and Russia. This move is part of Türkiye’s broader strategy to expand its influence on the global stage.
• Relations with the EU: Türkiye’s potential BRICS membership is seen as a complement to, rather than an alternative to, its existing commitments, such as its Customs Union with the European Union. Türkiye is expected to maintain its obligations to the EU while pursuing BRICS membership.

What is BRICS?

Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa comprise the BRICS economic and political coalition. The group will expand to include Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt the UAE, and Ethiopia starting in January 2024, bringing the total number of members to 10.

The objective of BRICS is to promote political dialogue and economic cooperation among significant emerging economies. The BRICS countries collectively have a population of 3.4 billion and a landmass of 45 million square kilometers.