Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the EU to refrain from actions and rhetoric that could undermine Ankara's "constructive stance," adding Brussels should praise the stance.
"Let it not be forgotten that Türkiye is no longer the old Türkiye, nor is the world still confined to the sphere of influence of Western states," Erdogan said on Monday during his address to the nation after chairing the Cabinet meeting.
He also urged the bloc to recognise that it cannot be a global actor or a centre of attraction without Türkiye as a full member.
The EU's "strategic myopia" towards Türkiye "unfortunately, persists, quite visibly," across many of the bloc's institutions, he noted.
The issue is not where Ankara stands, but where Brussels sees itself in the future, Erdogan said, adding that Europe needs Türkiye more than Türkiye needs Europe.
