Erdoğan to attend BRICS Summit in Russia

This event will bring together leaders from various developing economies, all converging to discuss strategies to challenge Western dominance. Among the key issues on the agenda for Erdoğan is a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The two leaders plan to discuss the ambitious project of establishing a gas hub in Türkiye. This initiative aims to make Türkiye a pivotal center for distributing Russian natural gas to Europe and beyond. This idea was first floated by Putin in 2022 after the Nord Stream pipeline explosions. The goal is to replace lost gas sales to Europe and support Türkiye’s aspirations to become an energy exchange hub.

Erdoğan and Putin’s discussions will focus on advancing this project, with key institutions from both countries already involved in negotiations and planning. Recent comments from Türkiye’s Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar indicate that significant progress is expected in the coming months.

Currently, Russia supplies gas to Türkiye through the Blue Stream and TurkStream pipelines, both running under the Black Sea. The proposed gas hub would enhance Türkiye’s role as a crucial energy transfer facilitator in the region.

Beyond energy, Erdoğan and Putin will also explore ways to strengthen their countries' trade and economic ties. The bilateral trade volume was $55.4 billion in 2023. Despite a decline last year, there has been an observed growth this year.

The BRICS summit, touted as the largest foreign policy event ever hosted by Russia, will see participation from 36 countries, with more than 20 represented by heads of state. Initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the BRICS alliance has recently expanded to include Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia. Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia have also formally applied to join the bloc.

This summit is seen as part of the Kremlin's strategy to rally support from the Global South amid escalating tensions with the West. Planned discussions include the creation of an alternative to the SWIFT payment system, from which Russian banks were cut off in 2022.

In addition to the BRICS discussions, Putin has a packed schedule of bilateral meetings, including talks with leaders from China, India, and South Africa. He is also set to meet United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, marking Guterres' first visit to Russia in over two years.

Türkiye's geopolitical stance is complex, given its maritime borders with both Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea. While it opposes Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it also rejects Western sanctions against Moscow. Ankara has played a crucial role in facilitating safe grain shipments from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, and continues to advocate for negotiations to end the conflict, expressing readiness to mediate for peace. (ILKHA)