Turkey Receives Offer to Become BRICS Partner Country, Trade Minister Says

09:46, 13 November 2024

ISTANBUL (Sputnik) - The status of a BRICS partner offers a different option from full membership, enabling countries to interact with BRICS without having voting privileges. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov suggested earlier this year that partner status will be "as close to membership as possible."

Sputnik

Turkey has been offered to become a BRICS partner country, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat said on Wednesday.

"Turkey has been offered to become a partner country in BRICS; this is a transitional process," Bolat told the TVNET news channel.

Kazakhstan Invited to Join BRICS as Partner Country, Russian FM Says

7 November, 08:34

According to reports, Thailand was earlier also invited to become a BRICS partner state. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia had supported Uganda as BRICS partner nation, emphasizing its "well-balanced and constructive" approach to international affairs.

BRICS is an intergovernmental association created in 2006. Russia assumed the rotating presidency of the bloc on January 1, 2024. The year began with the accession of new members to the association. In addition to Russia, Brazil, India, China and South Africa, it now includes Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, according to the website of the Russian 2024 BRICS Chairmanship. Saudi Arabia has not formalized its participation but has been taking part in BRICS meetings.