admin
The view of Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s administration is that the geopolitical centre of gravity is shifting away from developed economies, according to the people who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to comment.
The country’s new diplomatic push reflects its aspirations to cultivate ties with all sides in a multipolar world, while still fulfilling its obligations as a key member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, they said.
Straddling Europe and Asia, Türkiye submitted an application to join Brics some months ago amid frustration over a lack of progress in its decades-old bid to join the European Union, the people added.
The bid is also partly a result of rifts with fellow NATO members after Türkiye maintained close links with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the people added. Türkiye’s foreign ministry and presidency declined to comment.
“Türkiye can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious and effective country if it improves its relations with the East and the West simultaneously,” Erdogan said in Istanbul over the weekend. “Any method other than this will not benefit Turkey, but will harm it.”
The Brics grouping, named after Brazil, Russia, India and China and South Africa, includes some of the biggest emerging economies. It got four new members at the start of this year when Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt joined its ranks. Saudi Arabia was invited to join, though the kingdom is yet to do that.
The group’s further enlargement could be discussed during a summit in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24, said the people. Malaysia, Thailand and Türkiye’s close ally Azerbaijan are among other countries looking to join.– Bloomberg
Online Reporter