TURKEY’S ACCESSION BID TO BRICS
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Context:
Turkey officially applied to join the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa).
What Motivated Turkey to Join BRICS?
- Turkey's application for membership to the European Union (EU) has been put on hold since 2018 due to concerns regarding media freedom, judicial independence, and other democratic principles.
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- Turkey's desire to join BRICS can be interpreted as a strategic shift to explore new diplomatic relationships.
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- By joining BRICS, Turkey desires to expand its diplomatic ties and increase its influence. This decision matches Turkey’s overall policy of balancing its relationships between the West and non-Western nations.
- BRICS nations cooperate on trade and economic progress.
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- Due to its developing economy and strategic location, Turkey can benefit from increasing investment and trade opportunities through BRICS.
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About Turkey● It is located in West Asia, with a smaller portion in Southeast Europe. ●It shares boundaries with the:
●The majority of the population are ethnic Turks and Kurds form the country's largest ethnic minority. ●Ankara is Turkey's capital and second-biggest city, and Istanbul is the largest city. ●Mount Ararat is the highest point in Turkey. ●Lake Van is the country's largest lake. ●The Euphrates, Tigris, and Aras rivers all originate in eastern Turkey. ●Turkey has 3 of the world's 36 biodiversity hotspots; Mediterranean, Irano-Anatolian, and Caucasus hotspots. |
Potential Impact of Turkey's Decision to Join BRICS
- Economic Impact
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- Turkey could expand its trade relations with China and Russia which can result in higher exports of textiles, machinery, and agricultural goods.
- It may benefit from investments in key sectors such as energy, transportation, and technology to modernise its infrastructure and boost economic growth.
- It can minimise its economic reliance on Western countries by creating a buffer against economic sanctions and political pressures.
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- Strategic Impact
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- Turkey's stronger connections with Russia and China may raise tensions within NATO.
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has 32 members including Turkey.
- Partnering with the BRICS might complicate and potentially hinder EU membership talks.
- Turkey's unique location between Europe and Asia may increase its influence in both regions.
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Impact on Turkey and EU Relations
- Turkey is negotiating to enter the European Union (EU) as a member state.
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- It was a Western European Union associate member from 1992 to 2011.
- Negotiations for full membership began in October 2005, but progress was slow.
- The negotiations have paused since 2016 due to EU accusations of human rights violations and rule-of-law deficits.
- A European parliament committee suspended the negotiations talks in 2019.
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- EU expects candidate countries to support EU values, foreign policy, and security commitments.
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- Turkey has refused to join Western countries in placing sanctions on Russia for its activities in Ukraine.
- Turkey's failure to comply with EU sanctions against Russia has deteriorated its relationship with the EU.
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- Turkey's official application to join the BRICS could be seen as a departure from the EU membership.
- Turkey's bid to join BRICS could further decrease trust from Western countries, making EU membership more difficult.
What Turkey can do?●Turkey needs to find a balance between its BRICS connections and its commitments to NATO and the European Union. ●Turkey can introduce economic reforms to maximise the benefits of BRICS membership. ●The Turkish administration needs to manage public opinion of the action and establish clear and effective communication between other groups such as NATO and the EU. |
About BRICS
- BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is a group of emerging economies.
- The term BRICS was first used in 2001 by Goldman Sachs' Chief Economist to forecast global economic developments.
- It was founded in 2006 during the G7 Outreach Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia.
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- It was formally established during the 1st BRIC Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New York, USA.
- South Africa joined the forum in December 2010 resulting in the foundation of BRICS.
- Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates joined the group in January 2024.
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- BRICS headquarters is in Shanghai, China.
- The BRICS countries account for:
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- 30% of the world's land surface
- 45% of the global population
- 28% of the global economy
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- South Africa has the largest economy in Africa.
- Brazil, Russia, India, and China are among the world's ten largest countries by population, area, nominal GDP (GDP) and purchasing power parity.
- Fortaleza Declaration: The BRICS leaders formed the New Development Bank (NDB) during the 6th BRICS Summit in Fortaleza, Brazil (2014)
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- NDB aims to fund infrastructure and sustainable development projects in emerging and developing economies.
- The NDB's headquarters is in Shanghai.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements in the context of BRICS Countries: 1. They have created a common currency to promote trade and investment. 2. They founded the New Development Bank (NDB) to provide loans and investments to developing countries. 3. They formed a military alliance to defend their economic interests. How many of the above statements are incorrect? A) Only one B) Only two C) All three D) None Answer: B Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect: There have been debates and proposals to create a common BRICS currency to minimise dependence on the US dollar, but no such currency has been established yet. Statement 2 is correct: In 2014, the BRICS countries established the New Development Bank (NDB) to promote infrastructure and sustainable development initiatives in developing countries. Statement 3 is incorrect: BRICS serves as an economic and political association that aims to strengthen cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, and development. It is not a military alliance, and there are no clear military cooperation agreements. |