ANKARA, Turkey (AP) \u2014 A senior official on Tuesday confirmed a report that Turkey wants to join the\u00a0BRICS bloc of developing economies\u00a0but stopped short of declaring that the NATO country had formally applied for membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Bloomberg news agency reported Monday that Turkey had officially applied to join BRICS several months ago. Asked about the report, Omer Celik, spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s ruling party, said Erdogan has stated \u201cseveral times\u201d that Turkey aspires to become a member.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur request on this issue is clear. This process is ongoing. But there is no concrete development regarding this,\u201d Celik told reporters. \u201cOur president has clearly stated that Turkey wants to take part in all important platforms, including BRICS.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The BRICS alliance was founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India and China, with South Africa joining in 2010, but has recently undergone a major expansion, and now includes Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has said it\u2019s considering joining and Azerbaijan has formally applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BRICS has a stated aim to amplify the voice of the Global South. Its founding members have called for\u00a0a fairer world order\u00a0and the reform of international institutions like the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erdogan, who has\u00a0been in power\u00a0for more than two decades, has sought to carve a more independent foreign policy for Turkey and to enhance its global influence. The country is also frustrated by the\u00a0lack of progress\u00a0in its membership talks with the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last week, Erdogan said Turkey should \u201csimultaneously\u201d develop relations with both the East and the West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have to choose between the European Union and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization,\u201d Erdogan said in reference to the\u00a0regional cooperation organization\u00a0established by China and Russia. \u201cOn the contrary we have to develop our relations with both these and other organizations on a win-win basis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BRICS is expected to discuss taking in new members in a meeting in Russia next month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turkey, which straddles Europe and Asia, joined the NATO military alliance in 1952. It began talks to join the European Union in 2005 but the negotiations have stalled due to concerns over democratic regression under Erdogan\u2019s administration, and ongoing disputes with Cyprus, an EU member, among other challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey was \u201cexploring new opportunities for cooperation with several partners in different platforms, such as BRICS.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Monday, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, also said Turkey has expressed its interest in joining BRICS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n