Turkey's BRICS membership 'inevitable' despite US pressure: Opposition
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The deputy head of Turkey's Vatan Party says that Western pressure won't change the course of Turkey's BRICS membership.
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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives on day two of the 50th G7 summit at Borgo Egnazia, southern Italy, on June 14, 2024. (AP)
Hakan Topkurulu, the deputy head of Turkey's Vatan Party, told Sputnik that while Turkey's membership in BRICS is inevitable, Ankara will encounter unprecedented pressure from the West, with the United States already exerting significant influence on the country.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on June 4 that Turkey would like to become a member of BRICS and would monitor the developments in the organization.
"I believe that the US is putting negative pressure on Turkey's participation in BRICS, as well as on relations with Russia. Because if Turkey joins BRICS, it will change the balance between the West and the East in favor of the East. For this reason, Turkey's entry into BRICS will meet strong resistance from the West. Nevertheless, it will not be a surprise if Turkey makes an attempt to join BRICS in the near future, pushing back the Atlanticist powers," Topkurulu said, adding that Turkey's membership in the organization was "inevitable".
He also noted the presence of a significant faction in Turkey aligned with the West. The ongoing struggle between Atlanticist and Eurasianist factions within the ruling party shows that Atlanticists currently hold sway in Turkey, he explained. Therefore, the politician doubts Turkey's ability to "gather sufficient strength to join BRICS, particularly at this time."
BRICS was founded in 2009 as a collaboration platform among the largest emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, and China. South Africa joined the group in 2010, and Russia took over the bloc's rotating presidency on January 1.
It is worth highlighting that Turkey's steps towards BRICS could represent a potential shift away from its historical alignment with NATO and close ties to the United States. While Turkey has been a NATO member since 1952 and maintains a strategic partnership with the US, its relationship has gone downhill due to geopolitical differences, including Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which led to tensions with Washington and the severing of Ankara's participation in the F-35 program.
On the other hand, Turkey's interest in BRICS shows a desire to broaden its geopolitical alliances and economic partnerships beyond the West. Joining BRICS could provide Turkey with access to major emerging economies and lessen its reliance on Western allies.
