After 60 years of waiting, Turkey just threw its chances of ever joining the European Union (EU) out of the window, with the recent application for a membership with the BRICS alliance, an economic and political alliance dominated by Russia and China.
This decision would also anger the NATO alliance, who has been the antithesis of eastern powerhouses like China and Russia.
This political move is uncharacteristic of Turkey, as the country traditionally anchors its diplomatic relationship with its western alliance.
It seems that Turkey is making a bold move to redefine the country's position on the international chessboard by establishing partnership outside of its historical alliance with the West.
Turkey's strategic geopolitical repositioning
Turkey's official request to join the BRICS alliance is a strong signal to its western partners the desire to diversify its alliance amidst growing frustration with the west.
President Erdogan said:
"Turkey can become a strong, prosperous, prestigious and effective country if it improves its relations with both the East and the West."
This statement underscores the country's balance of both its relationship with bitter rivals (AKA the East and the West) without compromising the national interest.
The Turkish president asserts that this is the only method that would benefit Turkey. Any other method won't work.
Turkey's choice to move close to BRICS is a response to the economic and diplomatic challenges that Turkey is currently facing.
After decades of frustration regarding Turkey's EU membership bid and tense relations with the United States, Turkey is hoping that BRICS would be the platform that would allow the country to increase its influence on the global stage.
Reshuffling global power
Turkey's entrance into BRIC could cause a great reshuffling of global power. With the further inclusion of Turkey, BRICS, the influence of the bloc would be greater than ever.
By seeking to cultivate relations with BRICS, Turkey seems to be trying to strengthen its global influence and forge new ties beyond its western allies.
But this decision would require Turkey to cut all ties with NATO and the EU, and the country can forget about ever entering the EU.
Turkey's move to join BRICS could be Turkey's signal to the West that it would like to distance itself from the West and snuggle toward the booming Eastern powers.
Many analysts have also speculated that this could be the agenda of President Erdogan all along, saying that since winning the election, he has been trying to get rid of the West and Nato, and head towards Russia and China.
A whole new world for Turkey
Despite all the risk, it seems that Turkey seems to be determined to thread this new path to its foreign policy, a path that could redefine its role on the global stage.
This strategic move also shows Turkey's desire to increase its strategic autonomy and take advantage of the booming power of the BRICS bloc while trying to keep a friendly rapport with the Western alliance like NATO.