Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasized Ankara's commitment to engaging with the BRICS group of emerging market nations, following Turkiye's bid to become the first NATO member to join the bloc.

Axar.az reports that speaking at the BRICS forum in Kazan, he stated, "We are determined to further our dialogue with the BRICS family, with whom we have developed close relations based on mutual respect and win-win."

Erdogan criticized the political and financial mechanisms established after World War II, stating they are unable to meet current expectations. He praised BRICS for making a "unique contribution to the construction of a more just world" through the promotion of global trade, economic growth, and sustainable development goals.

If accepted, Turkiye would be the first NATO member to join BRICS, which positions itself as a counterbalance to Western powers and has significant differences with the West on various issues, particularly the ongoing Middle East conflict.