Turkey is considering joining the security organization led by China and Russia, without giving up its ties with the West.

The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that his country, a NATO member with the second largest army in the alliance, will consider deepening relations with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a security bloc led by China and Russia.

During a return flight from Kyrgyzstan, Erdogan emphasized that Turkey's prospect of becoming a full member of the SCO will not involve a break from other blocs or from the West.

Erdogan recently attended an SCO summit, where Turkey is a "dialogue partner." A photo from the summit, showing Erdogan, Putin, and Lukashenko in an informal discussion, attracted attention on social media.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), sometimes referred to as the "club of dictators," brings together 10 full members, including China, Russia, and India.