According to the Turkish commerce minister, BRICS offered Turkey partner nation status

As Ankara maintains what it describes as its efforts to balance its Eastern and Western connections, Trade Minister Omer Bolat said that the BRICS group of countries had offered Turkey partner country status. NATO member Turkey has expressed interest in joining the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates) group of growing economies in recent months.

Following Ankara’s announcement that it has formally begun measures to join the BRICS, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attended a summit of BRICS leaders last month in Kazan, which was hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“As for Turkey’s status regarding (BRICS) membership, they offered Turkey the status of partner membership,” Bolat said in an interview with private broadcaster TVNet on Wednesday. “This (status) is the transition process in the organisational structure of BRICS,” he said.

Erdogan has stated that Ankara does not view the BRICS as a substitute for its NATO membership and Western ties, but rather as a chance to expand economic cooperation with its member states. Turkish officials have stated time and time again that their obligations to the Western military alliance would not be impacted by Turkey’s possible participation in BRICS.

Aside from full membership, BRICS members introduced a “partner country” category in Kazan, according to the declaration issued by BRICS on Oct. 23. Bolat did not state if the idea had been approved by Ankara. Although the idea had been explored in Kazan, an official in Erdogan’s ruling AK Party told Reuters last month that partner country status would not satisfy Turkey’s membership requirements.