ANKARA: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced his plans to travel to Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, on Wednesday to attend the BRICS summit. The summit will focus on enhancing relations within the group, which consists of several major emerging economies.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Erdogan emphasized the significance of BRICS in a speech delivered at the Justice and Development Party’s general headquarters in Ankara. He noted that his participation is at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed confidence that the summit would bolster Turkey’s ties with the group.

Erdogan highlighted the substantial influence of BRICS countries, which account for approximately 30 percent of the global economy and represent 45 percent of the world’s population. He further detailed that these nations are responsible for 40 percent of global oil production and 25 percent of goods exports, underscoring the bloc’s economic significance.

The summit, cha
ired by Russia, commenced on Tuesday and will span three days. Erdogan’s participation in the expanded session of leaders is seen as a strategic move to enhance Turkey’s cooperation with BRICS.

BRICS, an economic bloc founded in 2006, initially comprised China, Brazil, Russia, India, and South Africa. This year, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE joined the group, which aims to amplify the representation of developing countries in global affairs and counter Western dominance.