Turkey was offered partner country status by the BRICS group of nations, Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said, as Ankara continues its efforts to balance its Eastern and Western ties, Reuters reported.
Turkey, a NATO member, has in recent months voiced interest in joining the BRICS group of emerging economies, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Ethiopia, Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended a BRICS leaders’ summit hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Kazan last month, after Ankara said it had taken formal steps to become a member of the group.
“As for Turkey’s status regarding [BRICS] membership, they offered Turkey the status of partner membership,” Bolat said in an interview with private broadcaster TVNet on Wednesday.
“This [status] reflects the transition process in the organizational structure of BRICS,” he said.
Ankara sees the BRICS group as an opportunity to further economic cooperation with member states, rather than as a direct alternative to its Western ties and NATO membership, Erdoğan has said.
Turkish officials have repeatedly said potential membership in BRICS would not affect Turkey’s responsibilities to the Western military alliance.
The expanding BRICS group issued a declaration in Kazan on Oct. 23 formally adopting the new category of “partner country.”