As Turkey seeks BRICS membership, it challenges Western-dominated global governance while navigating a complex geopolitical landscape.
Turkey is making waves with a strategic pivot that could reshape its international standing. Turkey is stepping into the spotlight with a bold bid to join BRICS—a move that underscores its desire to forge a unique path between the Eastern and Western spheres of influence.
Consider the backdrop: On December 14, 2022, Turkey made a conspicuous choice during a UN vote on a New International Economic Order. As 123 countries, mainly from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, rallied in favor, Turkey stood alone as the sole abstention. This decision epitomizes Turkey’s foreign policy stance, navigating a delicate balance between Europe and Asia, East and West, in an era where its strategic positioning is more crucial than ever.
Turkey’s bid to join BRICS—an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with recent additions of Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE—signals a significant departure from its longstanding European ambitions. Despite numerous attempts to join the European Union, Turkey remains outside the bloc, hindered by Europe’s reluctance to accept a predominantly Muslim-majority nation as a full member. The growing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe further complicates Turkey’s EU aspirations, leaving its European ambitions in limbo.
The EU’s reluctance highlights a broader pattern: Europe, increasingly defining itself through racial and cultural lines, seems less inclined to embrace a diverse, Muslim-majority nation within its ranks. This division is starkly illustrated by the rhetoric of European officials, like Josep Borrell’s controversial “garden vs. jungle” comment, which was widely criticized and later retracted.
Turkey’s frustration with Western institutions extends beyond the EU. Its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system led to a diplomatic fallout with the United States, resulting in a block on Turkey’s F-35 fighter jet purchase and a contentious debate over F-16s. The Erdogan administration’s grievances with the current global order, particularly the UN Security Council’s outdated structure, underscore a broader dissatisfaction with Western hegemony.
The rise of BRICS represents an alternative order where Turkey sees new opportunities for economic and diplomatic influence. As the BRICS grouping evolves, its role has grown from a mere coalition of emerging economies to a formidable global player with its own New Development Bank and Contingent Reserve Arrangement. Turkey’s geographical and economic positioning—bridging Europe, Asia, and Africa—makes it a valuable asset in BRICS’ strategic vision.
Turkey’s recent application to join BRICS Plus, the expanded version of the group, is particularly noteworthy. This move not only challenges the Western-dominated status quo but also signals Turkey’s intent to leverage its unique position between East and West to bolster its global influence. As the first NATO member to seek BRICS membership, Turkey’s bid highlights a critical juncture in its foreign policy—a pivot away from traditional Western alliances towards a broader, multipolar world order.
In this era of geopolitical reconfiguration, Turkey’s BRICS aspiration is more than a mere shift in alliances; it’s a strategic maneuver designed to enhance its global standing and influence. Turkey’s bold step reflects its broader ambition to redefine its role on the global stage, navigating between two worlds with a vision of becoming a linchpin in the emerging international order.
