Turkey has increasingly charted a unique path in international relations, often choosing to march to the beat of its own drum. This was evident during the United Nations vote on December 14, 2022, when the General Assembly passed a resolution supporting a New International Economic Order. While 123 member states, primarily from Africa, Asia, and Latin America, voted in favor and 50 countries opposed it, Turkey abstained—highlighting its foreign policy’s distinct position, straddling various global divides.

Fast forward to September 2024, Turkey surprised many by announcing its application to join BRICS Plus, marking a significant moment in its diplomatic strategy. This move, by a NATO member, to seek membership in a group historically perceived as a challenger to Western dominance underscores a deeper shift in Turkey’s foreign policy objectives and alliances. BRICS, originally composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is seen as a counterweight to the Western-led global order, making Turkey’s interest in the group a topic of major geopolitical interest.

Turkey’s Unique Position: Between East and West

Turkey’s geographical position has always placed it at a crossroads, both physically and diplomatically. It is a country that straddles two continents—Europe and Asia—giving it a strategic advantage in international politics. However, its foreign policy has often reflected this balancing act, as seen in its membership in NATO and its historical desire to join the European Union (EU). Yet, the September 2024 application to BRICS Plus signals that Ankara might be reconsidering how it wants to pursue its foreign policy goals—potentially moving away from reliance on Western institutions.

Turkey’s application to BRICS Plus is remarkable for several reasons. NATO, long regarded as the cornerstone of the Western military alliance, is fundamentally at odds with the core principles that BRICS embodies. BRICS, formed in 2006, has aimed to represent the interests of emerging economies, challenging the established global governance mechanisms dominated by the West. The organization’s chairmanship by Russia in 2024, a country currently embroiled in a war with Ukraine and under extensive NATO sanctions, further complicates the situation.

Despite these complications, Turkey’s decision to pursue membership in BRICS Plus speaks volumes about its dissatisfaction with the West. As Turkey’s foreign policy becomes more independent, it signals its desire to align with new global powers and rising economies in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which offer different economic and diplomatic opportunities.

A Long Road to BRICS

Turkey’s interest in BRICS is not a sudden development. As early as 2018, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended that year’s BRICS summit and expressed openness to the idea of joining the group. While it took several years for Turkey to formalize its interest, the geopolitical context in 2024 made the timing apt.

Turkey’s foreign policy under Erdogan has been characterized by a desire to elevate the country to middle-power status. It has often sought to balance its relationships between the East and West, yet its frustrations with the limitations imposed by Western institutions have grown increasingly apparent. Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union, for instance, have been long and fraught with challenges. Despite numerous trade agreements and military cooperation through NATO, the EU has consistently blocked Turkey’s full membership. In part, this reflects the broader hesitancy within Europe toward accepting a nonwhite, Muslim-majority nation into its ranks, especially in a political climate increasingly defined by far-right populism.

With over 85 million people, Turkey would surpass Germany as the EU’s most populous country if it ever gained membership. This would make Turkey a key player in European governance, granting it significant influence in bodies like the European Commission and the European Parliament. However, amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe, along with a perceived cultural clash between a largely Muslim country and a traditionally “white and Christian” Europe, Turkey’s prospects for EU membership seem dimmer than ever.

Frustrations with Western Dominance

Beyond its struggles with the EU, Turkey has also clashed with other Western powers, particularly the United States. Relations between Ankara and Washington have been rocky in recent years, particularly in the context of defense procurement. A notable point of contention came in 2019 when Turkey acquired the Russian S-400 missile defense system, a move that angered NATO allies and led the U.S. to block Turkey from obtaining F-35 fighter jets. This dispute underlined Turkey’s frustration with its position in the broader Western-dominated global order.

Turkey has long felt constrained by the political, economic, and military limitations imposed by its relationships with Western countries. The Erdogan government has voiced grievances about being denied a more prominent role in international affairs, often pointing to the structure of the United Nations Security Council, where five veto-wielding members—the United States, United Kingdom, France, China, and Russia—hold disproportionate power. Erdogan has repeatedly called for reforms to this system, arguing that it no longer reflects the geopolitical realities of the 21st century.

Despite these grievances, Turkey continues to maintain its ties with the West. It remains a key member of NATO, and much of its trade continues to flow through European markets, which remain its main export destinations. However, Ankara seems keenly aware that the world is moving in a different direction—one that is increasingly centered on the East, with Asia emerging as the new economic and diplomatic powerhouse.

BRICS as a New Avenue for Influence

Turkey’s application to join BRICS Plus aligns with this changing world order. As Erdogan himself noted in September 2024, Turkey’s future lies in fostering relationships with both the East and the West. Joining BRICS would give Turkey a new platform to achieve this, allowing it to strengthen its economic and diplomatic ties with some of the world’s most influential emerging economies.

BRICS has evolved significantly since its founding in 2006. What began as a loose coalition of four countries—Brazil, Russia, India, and China—expanded to include South Africa in 2010, and by 2024, it has become a formidable international grouping. Now known as BRICS Plus, the group welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024, while Saudi Arabia continues to deliberate on an invitation it received in 2023. With a membership that represents nearly half of the world’s population and a significant share of global GDP and trade, BRICS has established itself as a serious player on the world stage.

BRICS economies complement Turkey’s in several ways. Russia, for example, is Turkey’s largest supplier of natural gas, providing about half of the country’s total imports. China’s Belt and Road Initiative also positions Turkey as a critical hub for connecting East Asia with Europe, a role that would likely expand should Turkey join BRICS Plus.

Furthermore, BRICS membership would provide Turkey with a larger diplomatic platform to air its grievances with the West and push for reforms to the global governance structure. Ankara, like many other countries in the Global South, feels it has been marginalized by Western powers and sees BRICS as an opportunity to shape a more equitable world order.

The move by Turkey to join BRICS Plus could well be a turning point in global politics. Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani once argued that the “Asian century” began on March 13, 2015, when the U.K. applied to join the Asian Investment and Infrastructure Bank—defying U.S. objections. By the same logic, Turkey’s application to BRICS could be seen as a signal of a larger shift toward a multipolar world, where Western dominance is no longer a given.

While Turkey remains committed to NATO and maintains its trade relationships with Europe, its decision to pursue BRICS membership suggests a growing recognition that the future lies in cultivating new alliances across the globe. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and less centered on the West, Turkey stands to play a pivotal role in shaping the new international order. Whether its BRICS membership will be accepted remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Turkey is no longer content to remain within the confines of the Western-dominated global system.