Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan has again reiterated that Turkey is not turning its back on either the East or the West but wants to improve its relations with both sides, when asked about Ankara’s interest in joining the BRICS while remaining a key member of NATO.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Ankara quoted by Turkish media, the Turkish president stressed that Turkey’s decision to strengthen its relations with the BRICS in no way means that it is renouncing its close ties with NATO, or even the European Union.
‘The pillar of our foreign policy is centred on Turkey. We are not turning our back on the West or the East, nor are we changing sides… On the contrary, we are trying to assume our rightful role in the changing world system, with a Turkey-centred perspective,’ the Turkish leader said. ‘We take steps according to our own interests, we do not follow the path set by others,’ he added.
Erdoğan also reiterated his firm determination to permanently eradicate terrorism after the recent attack in Ankara, which he attributed to foreign interests: ‘The timing and the target of the terrorist attack show that it was not a coincidence… For years, terrorism has been used as a means to influence politics,’ the Turkish president said.
Despite the attack on the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities, Erdoğan stressed that Turkey will continue to ‘resolutely’ improve its defence industry, which he called ‘a source of pride’ for the country. ‘Our goal is a Turkey free of terrorism,’ insisted the Turkish president, who reported that at least 213 PKK members were neutralised during the heavy bombing raids in northern Syria and Iraq following the attack.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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