By More and more countries are showing interest in joining the BRICS bloc to expand their economies and move away from the global west and from trading under the US Dollar. The latest to show interest is Turkey.
During his diplomatic visit to China, a member of BRICS, to strengthen strategic relations with Turkey in Beijing, the Foreign Mister of Turkey Mr Hakan Fidan expressed interest in joining the economic bloc as an alternative from the European Union.
Fidan told his counterpart Wang Yi that Turkey would certainly like to become a member of BRICS; he said he will see how things go this year.
The Turkish Minister said the bloc could give Turkey a good alternative to the European Union to boost its economic prospects. According to Fidan, Turkey is exploring new opportunities for cooperation with several partners in diverse platforms including that of BRICS. He said Turkey has been in custom union with Brussels.
Pointing out some of the challenges in the EU, Fidan said some of the major EU nations have been preventing Turkey to become a full member of the European bloc due to identity politics. He said they have been trying to enter the bloc for a long time but have been unsuccessful. As a result, they are forced to look elsewhere.
Hakan Fidan said he sees the potential that BRICS has, though much work still has to be done, but is a force that cannot be ignored in the globe, it is a platform that gives an alternative to many countries and emerging economies.
BRICS is currently under the Chairmanship of Russia and boasts a GDP of over R25. 8 trillion and is forecasted to pass the G7 economic growth in two decades.
Countries from the global South have also raised their hands to join the BRICS bloc and trade outside the US Dollar. BRICS recently welcomed Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and United Arab Emirates into its fold. More countries are set to join the bloc.
