Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on September 2, 2026, that Turkey could consider becoming a full member of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a regional political and security organization led principally by China and Russia.
Turkey currently participates in the organization as a dialogue partner. Erdogan said full membership would not necessarily require Turkey to leave NATO or end its political and economic relationships with Western countries.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus. Its activities include security cooperation, economic coordination, diplomatic meetings, and discussions concerning regional stability.
Turkey has maintained membership in NATO since 1952 while also expanding economic, diplomatic, energy, and defense relationships with Russia, China, and countries in Central Asia. Ankara has frequently pursued policies that involve cooperation with governments belonging to competing international blocs.
Full Turkish membership in the organization would give a NATO member a formal position within a security organization containing Russia, China, and Iran, creating additional connections between institutions that have different strategic interests and membership structures.
