President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday said the European Union needs Türkiye more than Türkiye needs the bloc, as he urged Brussels to avoid actions and rhetoric that could undermine Ankara’s "constructive stance."
Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Erdogan pushed back against what he described as the EU’s persistent "strategic myopia," arguing that the bloc continues to misread Türkiye’s role and value.
"Türkiye is no longer the old Türkiye," Erdogan said, stressing that global dynamics have shifted beyond the traditional sphere of Western influence.
Casting the debate in terms of Europe’s long-term direction, Erdogan argued that the issue is not where Ankara stands, but how Brussels defines its own future.
The EU cannot become a global actor or a center of attraction without Türkiye as a full member, he noted, stressing that Türkiye’s EU membership bid, ongoing since 1959, continues to face bias and structural resistance, with recent talks failing to break the deadlock or revive momentum.
He argued that longstanding prejudices in parts of Europe have shaped the process, emphasizing that Ankara continues to pursue full membership despite these challenges while maintaining engagement with EU institutions.
