editor
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is highly likely to attend the BRICS summit in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan Republic, scheduled for October 22-24. At the local government level, Kazan and Ankara have long been reliable strategic partners. BRICS’ global leadership perspective and growing economic potential are increasingly becoming a key driving force for global development in the first half of the 21st century. The upcoming summit in Kazan is shaping up to be the most important and critical gathering in BRICS history since 2006. Representatives from 33 countries, including top officials from member nations of this multipolar alliance, will attend the event. Furthermore, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also participating in the Kazan Summit, which is emerging as one of the most impactful and potentially transformative events of the past decade.
TURKIYE EMERGES AS A SPECIAL CANDIDATE FOR BRICS MEMBERSHIP
Turkiye has formally applied to join BRICS, and this application will be considered during the summit in Kazan. What distinguishes Turkiye from other states aspiring to full BRICS membership (not just associate status) is its NATO membership, relations with the European Union (EU), and its inclusion in the Customs Union. There are systematic and critical aspects of Turkiye’s long-standing Western partnership that threaten the country’s sovereignty, independence, and national security. It is widely accepted that Washington and the CIA were behind the 2016 coup attempt by the Gülenist terrorist organization based in Istanbul and Ankara. Meanwhile, Turkiye’s leadership in regional defense has only strengthened since this turning point, and its refusal to participate even indirectly in NATO’s de facto occupation war in Ukraine, funded by the West and led by Washington, has helped maintain strong relations with Russia and the Eurasian alliance.
“TURKIYE’S INTEREST IN BRICS STEMS FROM DIVERSIFYING ITS GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS”
BRICS’ new strategic mega-projection for the “Global South” and the organization’s growing and strengthening role on the world stage are undoubtedly directly related to a sharp decline in the traditional authority and hegemony of the Western bloc. As Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan previously stated, “Turkiye’s interest in BRICS stems from efforts to diversify its global partnerships, especially given that progress towards EU membership has long stalled.” The Council of Europe and the European Commission have long supported separatist movements within Turkiye and its southern neighbors, while simultaneously keeping Ankara on a “second-class candidate list” for EU membership for decades. Political integration and social cooperation programs between Turkiye and the EU have almost completely stalled. While Turkish politicians and the public have expressed justified frustration with EU relations, tensions with NATO are reaching unprecedented levels, especially following major anti-Turkiye provocations in Greece.
BRICS MEMBERS ARE AWARE OF TURKIYE’S PRIVILEGED POSITION AND ROLE
Today, Turkiye is a partner, even an ally, of BRICS members such as Russia, China, India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and candidate member Saudi Arabia. President Erdoğan’s decision to pursue BRICS membership is therefore quite logical and well-timed. Turkiye is undoubtedly the leading “cross-border security country” in Eurasia, and there is no doubt that this position and role are well understood and highly valued within BRICS. The BRICS summit in Kazan, located just three to four hours by flight from Turkiye, is already poised to be the most significant event of this century. Dozens of countries, whether candidates or aspiring candidates, are now awaiting full membership in this global partnership that operates completely outside Western-origin global alliances and organizations. Kazan, the historic capital of the Tatars, is currently preparing to host thousands of distinguished guests, including 24 heads of state and government, with warm hospitality.
INTERNATIONAL GUESTS IN KAZAN WILL BE ACCOMMODATED ACROSS 57 HOTELS
Participants of the Kazan summit will stay in a total of 57 different hotels, including five-star establishments with presidential suites specially built for the BRICS meeting. Key stops for summit guests will include Kazan International Airport, the Kazan Expo Exhibition Complex, the historic Kazan Kremlin, and various city and republic administration buildings. Given the summit’s international significance, unprecedented security measures are being implemented for all top-level officials attending. Measures are also being taken to ensure maximum comfort for the guests and participants, with advanced and simplified logistics and transfer rules set for movement between Kazan’s districts and neighborhoods throughout the summit.
KAZAN HAS NEVER HOSTED SUCH A MAJOR EVENT IN ITS ANCIENT HISTORY
Despite its ancient history, Kazan has never before hosted such a large number of world leaders simultaneously. Recently, Moscow confirmed that Kazan is fully prepared to accommodate over 20,000 guests at once. Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin has also announced that the capital of the Tatarstan Republic is fully ready for the summit. As part of the long-standing preparations for the event, all infrastructure in the city center, including the Kazan Kremlin and the nearby Millennium Park and Square, has been completely renovated. The operation of 56 floating fountains on the Bulak River, forming Russia’s longest monumental fountain complex, is just one example of the grandeur of these preparations. As a result, there is no doubt that the beginning of next week will witness a dynamic and groundbreaking turning point, significantly impacting the entire structure of global political, economic, and geo-strategic relations.
