Erdogan to attend BRICS summit in Russia as Turkey seeks to join bloc
Turkey eyes BRICS membership amid stalled EU accession bid, as Erdogan prepares to meet bloc’s leaders at the upcoming summit in Russia.
ANKARA — Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is set to attend the BRICS leaders’ summit in Russia next month following confirmation of Ankara’s official bid to join the bloc.
Erdogan will travel to the southwestern Russian city of Kazan to attend the summit on October 22-24, which will be hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkey’s local media outlets reported, citing sources from the Turkish presidency.
The announcement comes only a day after Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) confirmed previous reports that Ankara applied to the bloc for full membership. “Our request in this matter is clear, and the process is proceeding,” AKP spokesperson Omer Celik said on Tuesday.
Putin’s foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, also confirmed the reports on Wednesday, saying that NATO member Turkey’s application was under consideration.
