Turkey has decided to officially bid to join BRICS, a grouping of some of the world's emerging economies, originally comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — but largely dominated by Moscow and Beijing.

Omer Celik, spokesperson for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), confirmed Turkey's application and said the request was "pending."

"Our president has already expressed multiple times that we wish to become a member of BRICS," he said in early September. "Our request in this matter is clear, and the process is proceeding within this framework."

Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Turkey's aspiration, according to Turkish media reports, and said that he will "fully support" Turkey's inclusion in the gathering.

If Turkey indeed becomes a member of BRICS, often described as a counterbalance to a Western-led global order, it could move further away from joining the European Union (EU) — and from deriving benefits of the 27-member bloc's single market.

Turkey has the right to decide on its own international partnerships, the EU, however, expects candidate country to support EU values, according to Peter Stano, a spokesperson of the EU's diplomatic service.

"We expect all EU candidate countries to support EU values firmly and unequivocally, to respect obligations deriving from relevant trade agreements, and align with the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy," Stano told DW.

"These are significant signals of shared values and interests, and of countries' strategic orientation," he added.

Some see Turkey's aim to join the BRICS group as a reaction to its........

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