Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said Ankara is considering joining the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) as a full member, signaling Türkiye’s continued interest in expanding its engagement with the Eurasian bloc.

Speaking after taking part in the SCO summit in Bishkek, Erdoğan stressed that potential full membership would not mean Türkiye was turning its back on its existing partnerships or the West, Reuters reports.

“The prospect of Türkiye becoming a full member of the organization does not imply a break with any other bloc or with the West,” Erdoğan said.

The Turkish president attended the SCO summit on September 1, where leaders discussed regional cooperation and international issues.

Türkiye has maintained close ties with both Western institutions and countries across Eurasia, making its possible move toward full SCO membership a development that could attract significant attention in international diplomacy.