Türkiye Wouldn’t Be Seeking New Alliances If EU Membership Was Achieved

Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Foreign Minister of Türkiye Hakan Fidan has asserted that the country would not be searching for new alliances if it had successfully joined the European Union, where it has held candidate status since December 1999. Fidan’s comments come amid increasing speculation that Türkiye may seek membership in the BRICS alliance, which is led by Russia.

In a live interview with Anadolu Agency on Thursday, Fidan remarked, “If our economic integration with the European Union had been crowned with membership, which is now (only) at the level of the Customs Union, maybe we would not be on such a search.”

Türkiye first applied for EU membership in 1987, but negotiations have been stalled for years. Despite its long-standing efforts and good intentions toward EU accession, Ankara has begun exploring other strategic partnerships. Fidan emphasized that the evolving global power dynamics are prompting countries to form new economic, security, and political alliances. “We see that the power matrix is constantly evolving, especially in the current world where there are approximately 200 nation-state actors,” he said.

“No country has the chance to handle crises in the world without forming an alliance, that is, without paying a huge price,” the foreign minister added.

Founded in 2006, the BRICS group initially included Russia, Brazil, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Recently, the alliance has expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the UAE, aiming to challenge the dominance of Western-led global institutions and provide an alternative framework for international economic and political cooperation.

Fidan’s remarks highlight Türkiye’s growing interest in diversifying its alliances in the face of stalled EU accession talks and shifting geopolitical landscapes.