Turkey Also Wants to Join BRICS

Kremlin supports Ankara's interest in BRICS

Hakan Fidan

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that “Ankara would like to become a full member of BRICS.” The Turkish diplomatic chief, who is currently on an official visit to China, said this after talks in Beijing with Chen Wenqing, director of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, with whom Fidan discussed the current situation and prospects for the development of bilateral relations between Turkey and China.

As Chen noted, “Beijing and Istanbul have established a new model for the long-term development of bilateral relations in recent years,” expressing his country’s willingness to further cooperate with Turkey to “safeguard the security interests” of both countries.

Both China and Russia have welcomed Turkey’s interest in BRICS. At a press conference in Moscow, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “We welcome the growing interest in joining BRICS from our neighboring states, including our important partners, such as Turkey. Naturally, this topic will be on the agenda of the BRICS summit in Kazan, which will be chaired by Russia.” According to Peskov, “BRICS is unlikely to fully meet the expectations of all countries showing interest in the group.”