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- Writer, Selin Girit and Mahmut Hamsici
- Name the person who wrote the story, BBC World Service
“Our president made it clear that Turkey wants to join all the important groups, including BRICS,” said Omer Celik, the spokesman for President Erdogan’s ruling party.
He did not confirm the reports whether Turkey has officially applied to join the group, but he said that “it is on the way”.
The group of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa) is expected to discuss the approval of new members at a general meeting to be held in the western Russian city of Kazan between October 22-24.
What will happen if Turkey joins BRICS?
If Turkey is invited and joins, it will be the first NATO country to join a non-Western economic alliance led by Russia or China.
“I think this will be an important signal, not only for Turkey or BRICS, but also for NATO and Western countries,” said Kerim Has, an expert on Turkey-Russia relations.
He added that Turkey needs investment from foreign countries, so it must expand its relations with other countries, especially now that its economy is facing problems.
“If the Turkish economy collapses, it will affect European banks, because the Turkish economy depends on the banks,” he said. “Almost half of Turkey’s trade is with European countries.”
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The Council of the European Union said that the EU is Turkey’s biggest trade partner, about 31.8 percent of Turkey’s trade with the EU. In 2022, the amount of trade between Turkey and Europe will reach 200 billion euros.
According to him, this is what made European countries turn a blind eye to Turkey’s refusal to comply with the sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukaine.
“The West is turning a blind eye to how Turkey is strengthening its trade relations with Russia and the Organization of the Nations,” said Mr. Has.
“Also, if Turkey, which is a member of the NATO security group, becomes a member of the BRICS group, one of the responsibilities that will be on its shoulders is to reduce or relax its words about how the Western countries call the group.”
“Also, another responsibility that will fall on Turkey as a member of BRICS, especially from the side of the United States and Great Britain, is to prevent BRICS from turning against the West.”
What is the BRICS group?
At first it was called BRIC, that is the group of countries whose economies are developing rapidly. The group was formed in 2006 from Brazil, Russia, India and China. The group joined BRICS in 2010 after South Africa joined.
The BRICS group was established to unite the economically developed countries in one place, in order to deal with the large and powerful Western countries.
The alliance has grown significantly in recent years, now including Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates.
Saudi Arabia has also said it is looking into the possibility of joining, while Azerbaijan has requested formal entry.
Some reports that appeared in the Bloomberg news agency last week show that Turkey has requested to join the group several months ago.
Since 2018, President Erdogan expressed his country’s desire to join the BRICS group, during the 10th meeting of the group in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Why does Turkey want to join BRICS?
President Erdogan – who has been leading the country for more than 20 years, is also concerned about the delay Turkey is facing in becoming a full member of the EU – saying that his country needs to improve its relations with both Eastern and Western countries.
“We don’t have to choose between the EU and the SCO,” as Mr. Erdogan said, referring to the BRICS group led by China and Russia.
“We want to build a relationship with all the groups for success.”
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In 2022, the amount of trade between Turkey and Russia will reach 11 percent of the country’s total trade, while its trade with China will be 7.2 percent.
Kerim believes that Russia will support Turkey’s entry into the BRICS group
“The main thing in front of Russia is how to maintain its economy in order to continue the war in Ukraine, in order to ensure that its economy does not collapse due to the series of Western sanctions,” he said.
“So. Moscow must confirm its closeness with Turkey. Their ties are wide and wide, ranging from energy to trade and tourism. And Russia wants to form an alliance with a NATO country.”
Yusuf Can from the American Wilson Institute said that Turkey’s efforts to join BRISC, SCO and other organizations are not seen as a concern.
“NATO will talk about that, being a member of the alliance,” he clarified.
Economic problem
Turkey is suffering from economic pressure, and its dependence on foreign countries is seen as one of the reasons for the country to expand its relations.
Statistics from the International Monetary Fund, IMF, show that in 2023, Turkey will be the 17th largest economy in the world.
The opinions of the people of the country in the past show that the cost of living is the problem that worries the citizens the most.
President Erdogan has pressured the Central Bank of the country to continue accepting loans at low interest rates, to revive the country’s economy.
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Although the country’s finance minister, Mehmet Simsek, claimed that the rise in prices in the country “is the worst”, many fear that the worst will happen again in the future.
“Since the appointment of Mr. Simsek, inflation has continued to increase, and the value of the country’s currency has continued to fall, despite the increase in interest rates from 8 percent to 50 percent…”, Darka Umit said. of the University of Berlin.
Until now, nothing can be said about the future of Turkey’s economy, according to experts.
“The increase in prices will decrease in the coming months because of the plan,” said Dr. Akcay.
“Well, except for the decrease in inflation, it does not mean that the cost of living in the country has been brought to an end. If the workers’ salaries are not increased, and programs are developed to support the poor, then the problem will continue.
If Turkey’s demand to join a non-Western alliance succeeds, it could stabilize its economy.
However, it is seen that Turkey’s main objective to join BRICS is not related to the politics and policies of President Erdogan about 360 foreign countries.
