NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that Türkiye’s pursuit of membership in the BRICS economic group does not undermine its role within the US-led military alliance.
Speaking at a press conference in Estonia, Rutte addressed concerns about Ankara’s desire to join BRICS, which the Estonian Public Broadcaster labelled a “Russia-dominated organization.”
He responded by saying that Türkiye remains “a very important ally in the alliance” with one of the best-equipped military forces in NATO, and plays a “vital role in its part of the NATO geography.”
Rutte affirmed Türkiye’s “sovereign right” to pursue cooperation with BRICS, adding that while this might lead to occasional debates within NATO, it does not diminish Türkiye’s popularity or importance within the alliance.
“NATO is very popular in Türkiye, and Türkiye is very popular in NATO,” he claimed.
The comments follow Türkiye’s formal application to join BRICS, making it the first NATO state to seek membership in the group, sparking concerns in Brussels over potential conflicts with EU foreign policy preferences.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is attending the 16th BRICS Summit in Russia.
