Meeting with Fidan: Putin Backs Turkey’s BRICS Ambitions

Meeting with Fidan: Putin Backs Turkey’s BRICS Ambitions

On June 11, 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Moscow. Photo 

On Tuesday, June 11th, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, marking their first meeting since Fidan assumed his position in June. During this encounter, Putin reaffirmed Moscow’s backing for Turkey’s inclusion in the BRICS bloc, Al Monitor reports on June 11th.

Prior to the meeting, held on the sidelines of the BRICS+ foreign ministers gathering in western Russia, Putin voiced his support for stronger ties between Turkey and the China-led bloc:

We welcome Turkey’s interest in the work of BRICS.

Undoubtedly, we will fully support this aspiration and desire to be together with the countries of this union, to be closer.

– he added at the closed-door meeting.

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Although this was Fidan’s first meeting with Putin, it marked his second visit to Russia as Turkey’s top diplomat, following his initial trip to the Black Sea neighbour last August. During his two-day visit, the Turkish official also met with Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister and Sergei Naryshkin, the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service , according to TRT.

Fidan’s meeting with Putin occurred just a week after Putin subtly criticised Turkey for its increasing ties with Western financial institutions.

Al Monitor and TRT