Turkey Offered Partner Country Status by BRICS, Says Turkish Minister
Turkey has been offered partner country status by the BRICS group of nations, according to Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat. This offer comes as Turkey seeks to balance its relations with both Eastern and Western powers.
Turkey, a member of NATO, has recently expressed an interest in joining the BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended a BRICS leaders’ summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan last month, during which Turkey took formal steps to pursue membership.
Speaking in an interview with private broadcaster TVNet on Wednesday, Minister Bolat confirmed that BRICS had extended an offer for Turkey to obtain partner country status, which he described as a transitional phase within the BRICS organizational structure. “This status is part of the transition process in the BRICS framework,” Bolat explained.
Erdogan’s administration views the BRICS group as a means to foster economic cooperation with emerging economies, emphasizing that joining BRICS does not aim to replace Turkey’s existing ties with Western countries or its NATO membership. Turkish officials have made it clear that potential BRICS membership will not alter Turkey’s obligations to the Western military alliance.
In addition to full membership, BRICS introduced a “partner country” category at the Kazan summit, which took place on October 23. However, Minister Bolat did not comment on whether Turkey has formally accepted the partner country status offer.
A source within Erdogan’s ruling AK Party told Reuters earlier this month that while the BRICS proposal was discussed in Kazan, Turkey is seeking full membership, and partner status would fall short of meeting its demands.
