Turkey has submitted a request to join the BRICS group of major emerging market nations, the spokesman of the ruling party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
“Our president has many times stated that we want to become a BRICS member… The process is now underway,” said Omer Celik, spokesman for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
The emerging nations of Brazil, Russia, India, and China created the BRIC international forum in 2009.
South Africa joined a year later, making it BRICS, and Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates joined at the beginning of this year.
The group sees itself as a counterweight to the US and Western-led global order.
“Our president has clearly stated that Turkey wants to take part in all important platforms, including BRICS,” Celik told a news conference.
Erdogan said in June that he doesn’t view BRICS membership as an alternative to membership in other groups, and the country officially remains a candidate to join the European Union.
With AFP
