The recent terrorist attack on October 23 at the Terrorist Aerospace Industries headquarters in Turkey, which killed five and injured 22, has raised international concerns and stirred suspicions about foreign involvement, notably Western powers. Occurring during the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was present, the attack has been perceived as a potential warning against Turkey’s alignment with BRICS.
Turkey’s Quest for Global Alliances
The attack occurred when Turkish President Erdoğan was negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many believe this was a message to the Turkish government and President Erdoğan that the country’s BRICS membership could entail significant security threats. Turkey, just like the other developing countries, has sought an inclusive organization to expand its ties with other countries. It has been striving to gain European Union membership since 1987. Turkey seeks to expand its global influence by gaining membership in an influential organization. However, the EU has been hesitant to accept any Muslim state as a full-fledged member. Since 2016, Turkey’s negotiation with the EU bloc has been stalled by the latter, under the pretext of the violation of human rights. This prolonged wait has frustrated the country to look for other options.
Amidst a rapidly declining US-led Unipolar World Order, Russia and China are leading the developing countries to a new and inclusive world order. The Western nations are exasperated over the swift rise of these two economic and military giants on the global stage. The developing world has shown a significant tilt towards these two countries due to their soft power. The failure of the United Nations in hampering the United States and its allies from killing innocent civilians in Iraq, Vietnam, Syria, Afghanistan, and Palestine has strengthened the narrative that the US-led New World Order only serves the interests of the Western nations. BRICS emerged as the beacon of hope for all developing countries, promising to be an inclusive multilateral organization. As the leading countries of the BRICS alliance, Russia and China are known for their stance on non-interference in the domestic affairs of their allies, focusing on supporting their development and growth.
However, the United States, the sole superpower of the unipolar world order, holds a reputation for meddling in the domestic issues of developing countries. Numerous developing countries have been making their foreign policy decisions under the US duress. There had already been speculations about the US and its regional allies being involved in the killing of Chinese engineers in Pakistan. Moreover, the US has also been the key player in the destruction of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Vietnam, Palestine, and Afghanistan. Scores of innocent civilians have been killed by the indiscriminate bombing of the US and its allies.
In March 2024, the Russian Foreign Security Service reported that the US, UK, and Ukraine were involved in the terrorist attacks at Crocus City Hall in Moscow. This state terrorism by the US against the countries holding hostile ideologies has earned the US a hard image around the world. This violent past has raised concern about the involvement of the US and its Western allies in the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey. The attack may serve as a warning to Turkish officials about the potential consequences of aligning with the BRICS alliance. However, Turkish President Erdoğan seems determined to lead his country in the right direction.
The Implications of BRICS Membership
For Turkey, joining the BRICS organization holds immense significance. In the increasingly volatile global dynamics, Turkey needs to expand its influence and ties with all the rising powers and the developing world. The EU is hesitant to grant full membership to Turkey, despite the latter’s NATO membership. BRICS provides it the best alternative to the EU due to its inclusiveness and rising popularity amongst developing and underdeveloped nations. BRICS membership would strengthen Turkey’s economic and diplomatic ties with Eastern countries. It would open new trade venues for the country and decrease its dependence on pseudo-liberal Western institutions.
In the ongoing BRICS summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled the BRICS currency. This currency could prove a disaster for the US dollar’s dominance and further expedite the decline of the US hegemony. Moreover, given the influence of Russia and China in the Middle East, BRICS membership can help Turkey in stabilizing and bringing peace to the region. However, these cowardly terrorist attacks by so-called champions of peace and democracy in the world signify their state of disarray.
Abbas Hashemite – is a political observer and research analyst for regional and global geopolitical issues. He is currently working as an independent researcher and journalist, exclusively for “New Eastern Outlook”