Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has declared Turkey's ambition to secure permanent membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
A Permanent Member
According to Ura he was speaking at a press conference in Washington, when he made the announcement.
Erdogan emphasized Ankara's strategic goal of joining the SCO, which includes China, Russia, and several Central Asian nations.
"Turkey should join the 'Shanghai Five' as a permanent member. I discussed this matter at the last summit in Astana with Mr. [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Kazakh President [Kassym-Jomart Tokayev], seeking their support in this process," Erdogan stated, as broadcasted by TRT Haber.
Disagrees with Putin
Erdogan's announcement comes amid his participation in the NATO summit, where he expressed opposition to the alliance's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. While Erdogan acknowledged disagreements with Putin, he stressed that such differences do not hinder their dialogue.
Both Russia and Turkey aim to address issues pragmatically, Erdogan noted.
The Turkish president's push for SCO membership highlights his efforts to diversify Turkey's international alliances, balancing its role in NATO with burgeoning ties to Eastern powers.
This move reflects a broader strategy to enhance Turkey's geopolitical influence and foster cooperation on regional security and economic issues.
