Heine Examines Turkey’s Strategic Move to Join BRIC
A new Foreign Policy analysis authored by Ambassador Jorge Heine, Research Professor at Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, and Ariel González Levaggi addresses Turkey’s bid for BRICS membership, marking a decisive shift on global diplomatic terrain.
Their assessment shows that rather than signaling a departure from Western partnerships, this application reflects calculated diplomatic positioning. As both NATO member and EU candidate, Turkey stands as an unprecedented participant seeking active involvement within BRICS, pointing toward an increasing preference for non-aligned stances across nations.
Turkey’s application arrives during a period of expansion for BRICS, which added Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and UAE as members this January. Trade among BRICS countries has strengthened considerably, now accounting for 40% of global commerce. Their Shanghai-based New Development Bank, under leadership of ex-Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, has distributed $33 billion across 96 ventures.
Should Turkey gain membership, Heine and González Levaggi suggest this would strengthen BRICS’ status as a non-aligned association rather than an anti-Western coalition. Among current members, China and Russia may favor challenging Western dominance, yet Brazil, India, and South Africa support non-alignment – an orientation Turkey would likely reinforce.
President Erdogan’s diplomatic strategy blends Ottoman historical influences, national goals, and an outlook favoring multiple centers of power globally. Under his guidance, Turkey pursues independent action alongside existing Western connections, serving as intermediary during Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Through this BRICS application, Turkey signals its strategic value demands recognition from Western allies. This step mirrors a broader pattern among nations diversifying international partnerships versus relying on singular alliances.
Ambassador Jorge Heine is a Research Professor at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University. He has served as ambassador of Chile to China (2014-2017), to India (2003-2007), and to South Africa (1994-1999), and as a Cabinet Minister in the Chilean Government. Read more about Ambassador Heine on his faculty profile.