Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Turkey has not been invited to join BRICS due to a perceived ‘Islamophobic’ stance of the EU, which has impacted Ankara’s EU membership efforts. He praised BRICS for its inclusivity compared to the EU, and noted that Turkey’s EU application, which began in 1963, has been stalled for years.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Turkey has not received an invitation to join the BRICS group, attributing this to the European Union’s perceived ‘Islamophobic’ stance that has hindered Turkey’s EU membership aspirations. Fidan commented on Turkey’s foreign policy developments during a joint press conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Ankara.
Fidan indicated that BRICS, comprised of nations including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, is currently not accepting new members. He remarked, “We are closely following BRICS and have clearly shown our interest. However, as far as we understand, BRICS has currently suspended new member admissions as part of its institutional consolidation.”
BRICS currently accounts for around 54.6% of the global population and approximately 42.2% of world GDP, with several countries, including Belarus and Nigeria, poised for future membership. Fidan elaborated on BRICS’s inclusivity, contrasting it sharply with the EU’s exclusivity by saying, “Unlike the European Union, BRICS has a remarkably inclusive composition.”
Fidan further pointed out that Turkey’s EU membership bid has been stifled by reluctance to incorporate a predominantly Muslim nation. He stated, “No one says this outright, but that’s the reality.” Turkey’s EU journey began in 1963, but progress was halted by issues relating to human rights, democratic standards, and geopolitical tensions.
Despite the stalled negotiations and challenges stemming from a coup attempt in 2016, Turkey officially maintains its candidate status for EU membership and continues to pursue its interest in BRICS.
Turkey’s pursuit of BRICS membership remains unfulfilled due to current restrictions on new admissions, reflecting a broader trend in Turkey’s foreign policy interests. Additionally, the longstanding challenges in Turkey’s EU accession process highlight cultural and political barriers, with Fidan attributing part of this stagnation to the EU’s treatment of Turkey as a Muslim-majority country.
Original Source: www.turkishminute.com
