Illustration: GT

Turkey has submitted a request to join the BRICS group of major emerging market nations,MKsports the spokesman of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said Tuesday. 

Over the years, Turkey's bid to join BRICS has faced numerous twists and turns. As a country with relatively close relations with the West, Turkey's interest in BRICS has long drawn attention from Western powers. 

However, after years of careful consideration, Turkey has now made its move, signaling greater independence in its foreign policy and its expectations for a new international economic order.

As a NATO member and a key candidate for the European Union, Turkey's potential accession to BRICS has long drawn Western attention. The West often misinterprets the BRICS mechanism as a vehicle for bloc confrontation, and fears that Turkey's membership would bring it closer to "non-Western countries" like Russia, thus disrupting the international strategic balance. 

Additionally, there are misconceptions in the West. They see BRICS as a platform for China or Russia to seek to counter the West's global influence and exert control over the global system through financial and economic means. Some have even suggested that Turkey's inclusion would push it to align with the "Eastern bloc." 

Turkey holds unique geographical and economic advantages. Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Turkey controls the strategically vital Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. These waterways are among the world's most crucial maritime chokepoints, making Turkey a bridge between Europe and Asia. 

Turkey's special geographical location grants it irreplaceable strategic importance in military, economic and energy transport aspects. For decades, Turkey has aimed to establish itself as a global hub for land, sea and air routes linking Europe, Asia and Africa.

In international politics, Turkey plays a significant role in both European and Middle Eastern affairs. 

Although Turkey has not been able to join the EU, it is a member of the EU customs union, making Turkey one of the EU's major trading partners and an integral part of European economic integration. 

In Middle Eastern countries, Turkey's cultural and historical influence is undeniable. Turkish television shows, films and music are highly popular in Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa, greatly enhancing Turkey's cultural influence and providing it with considerable soft power to engage with the people of Arab nations.

The emergence of the BRICS mechanism represents a reflection and correction of the current global economic structure. 

Traditionally, Western developed countries have held a dominant position in the international economic system and norms, while developing countries have had no choice but to follow rules and standards set by these developed nations. 

Over the past few decades, under the wave of globalization, the economic and social development gap between Western developed countries and developing countries has widened, and the development divide has become increasingly difficult to bridge. 

Therefore, as a new international mechanism for emerging global economies, the BRICS mechanism was established to address the monopolistic position of Western developed countries under economic globalization and to better safeguard the interests of developing countries and Global South nations.

Turkey's potential accession to BRICS should not be viewed as an outright confrontation with the West. The Turkish government neither fully supports nor opposes the West. 

In fact, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has continued its dialogue and negotiations with the EU regarding its accession to the EU. 

Although Turkey does not fully align with the wishes of Western countries and its relationships with the US and the EU are less than ideal, the Turkish government still wishes to maintain ties with the West, avoiding the appearance of choosing sides. 

Its recent decision to join BRICS shows its determination to seek maximum national interests. It is expected that the flexibility within BRICS can push forward the relations among Global South countries and boost the economic development of Turkey.

The author is director of the Israeli Studies Program and Center at Northwestern University in Xi'an. [email protected]