Quick Hit:

Turkey has formally applied to join the BRICS alliance, a group of emerging economies led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, according to a senior Kremlin official. T

Key Details:

• Turkey has applied for full membership in BRICS, as confirmed by a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly expressed interest in joining BRICS, but there is no official confirmation of a formal application from Ankara.
• The BRICS bloc aims to counterbalance the Western-led global order and recently expanded to include several new members.

Diving Deeper:

Turkey, a member of NATO, has applied for full membership in the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, according to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The application will be considered by the alliance, which Russia currently chairs, in its upcoming meeting.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been at Turkey's helm for over two decades, has often voiced his country's interest in joining BRICS. Omer Celik, a spokesperson for Erdogan's ruling party, has confirmed Turkey's aspirations but stopped short of validating that a formal application has been submitted.

The BRICS alliance, initially founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, and later expanded to include South Africa, has grown into a significant counterweight to the Western-dominated global order. Recently, the bloc has welcomed new members, including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia is considering joining, while Azerbaijan and Malaysia have submitted formal applications.

BRICS was established to amplify the voice of emerging economies and advocate for a fairer global system. Its founding members have consistently called for reform of international institutions like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. Turkey's application aligns with its broader foreign policy goal of increasing its global influence while also addressing its frustration over stalled EU membership negotiations.

Erdogan's government has pursued an increasingly independent foreign policy, seeking to strengthen ties with both Eastern and Western powers. "Turkey should simultaneously develop relations with both the East and the West," Erdogan stated last week.

The BRICS bloc is expected to deliberate on Turkey's application and those of other interested countries at its upcoming meeting in Russia. President Putin has previously welcomed Turkey's interest, pledging support for its desire to "be together with the countries of this alliance, to solve common problems."