Turkiye tried joining the EU for decades. The Europeans would never accept them no matter how long it took or what Turkiye offered. Turks are too Muslim and too Asian for them; despite abolishing the caliphate, secularizing and adopting the Latin script.
Now though Turkiye can look southward and find prosperity without strings attached. None of the BRICS members share a culture or religion, a more diverse and global community where Turkiye can join as it is.
Turkiye is a regional power, it has a strong manufacturing base, and while a NATO member and dependent on the West they also have an advanced military industry and that was demonstrated during TAI TF Kaan maiden flight.
This has been the case for almost two decades now, yet they are stuck in the Middle East and cannot leave. The US is religiously tied to Israel, and is at a stage where the entire decisionmaker class genuinely believe that what's good for Israel is good for the US.
Good for China, bad for the Middle East. But oh well, no one can choose their fate, we [Middle Easterners] certainly didn't choose to be cursed with Israel.