FM Fidan on Ukraine’s NATO membership and Türkiye’s BRICS pursuit

Ukraine’s NATO membership remains a central issue as Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan addressed the subject during an interview with Bloomberg TV.

Fidan outlined Türkiye’s stance on Ukraine’s possible NATO membership and discussed Türkiye’s broader economic strategy.

Ukraine NATO membership discussion

Fidan stated, “(Ukraine’s) desire to join NATO will not be opposed, but we must be very realistic.”

He added that regarding whether the previous administration supported Ukraine joining NATO, “I am not sure whether the previous administration was in favor of Ukraine joining NATO. Therefore, I do not believe there is a new policy on this matter.”

Fidan also noted that discussions on Ukraine’s potential membership have been held with European partners and Ukrainian allies, emphasizing that Ukraine seeks NATO membership not only as a status symbol but also to secure its national safety.

He reiterated Türkiye’s approach by saying, “We won’t say anything to those who want to join NATO, but we must be very realistic. This is the official stance announced by our President (Recep Tayyip Erdogan).”

Türkiye’s economic strategy and BRICS bid

Fidan explained that despite decades of unsuccessful attempts to join the European Union, “Türkiye is still seeking to join BRICS nations as part of efforts to strengthen its economy.”

He added that President Erdogan is “keen to increase Türkiye’s economic options” and recalled that the EU was “our first choice.” Fidan commented, “If we cannot be part of the EU then other alternatives are always on the table.”

He also pointed out that the EU has blocked Türkiye’s membership over concerns regarding human rights and democratic standards. Although Türkiye has submitted a formal bid to join BRICS, it has so far only received “partner-country status.”

Focus on multilateralism and global cooperation

At the G-20 summit of foreign ministers in Johannesburg, South Africa, Fidan stressed the need for international collaboration, remarking, “In the modern world, no one country can alone overcome economic and political issues.”

Commenting on BRICS, he added, “We are interested but we have not been offered a membership yet.”

He further underscored the benefits of multilateralism, stating, “If we can institutionalize multilateralism, it would be easy for us to address the problems of geopolitics, war and peace and economic problems.” Instead, he observed, “Self-help is on the menu for every nation state. So it encourages very fierce competition.”

Fidan also highlighted Türkiye’s proactive outreach in Africa, noting that, “Türkiye is offering an opportunity for some African countries.”