Erdogan looks east. NATO ally Türkiye wants to become a member of the China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization

“We are still working with Russia and China to establish a joint venture with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. We are yet to accept the participation of the dialogue, which will be a step forward in the process,” Erdogan said. He said accession may take some time and that it would be appropriate Bloomberg.

Erdogan, who first expressed interest in becoming the first NATO member to join the SCO in 2022, is trying to strike a balance between building a new economic partnership with the East and strengthening defense, security, trade and energy ties with Western allies. Turkey has also recently moved closer to the BRICS club of major emerging countries, a sign of its growing frustration with the lack of progress in its negotiations to join the European Union.

The country has been linked to the OCS since 2013 through a partnership agreement.

Erdogan decided to join the OCS after discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Next week, Erdogan will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of a NATO leaders’ summit in Washington.

The SCO currently has 10 permanent members, with Belarus joining this year’s summit. Other members include China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.