The expansion process of BRICS and an analysis of Türkiye’s possible membership in BRICS

Abstract

BRICS has emerged as a new and improved form of development for the global economy and has become one of the most closely monitored organizations by both regional and international actors since its establishment in 2006. In recent years, BRICS has made significant progress as a new and promising actor in shaping the global economy, and it has gained the potential to be an alternative to the Western-led global economic structure. Along with these developments, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of countries seeking to join BRICS. In this context, Türkiye, which has not been able to maintain very stable relations with the West in recent years, due to changing global conditions, has signaled that it may establish political and economic ties with various institutions and organizations while preserving its political and economic relations with the international institutions and organizations to which it belongs. This study examines the progress made by BRICS, its goals for the global economy, and its future, while also assessing the possibility of Türkiye’s becoming a member of BRICS within the context of its political and economic relations with the West. The findings indicate that Türkiye seeks to strengthen its economic and diplomatic relations with BRICS countries without severing its ties with the West. While Türkiye's BRICS membership offers opportunities that could contribute to economic diversification, energy cooperation, and pursuit of a multipolar international order, potential tensions with Western partners and structural divergences within BRICS may put pressure on Türkiye-BRICS relations.