Don't Forget: Turkey is No Longer the Turkey It Used to Be. Erdogan Issues Strong Criticism

The leader of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has issued a strong criticism of the European Union's anti-Turkish initiatives. He has called on Brussels to rectify its erroneous approaches and refrain from actions that damage relations.

According to Erdogan, strategic blindness towards Turkey is still noticeable in many institutions of the Union. He emphasized that without Turkey's full membership, the European Union cannot become a center of attraction or a global player. The president stated that they are not a country whose value is only acknowledged when necessary, while being sidelined at all other times.

Erdogan pointed out that the EU should appreciate Turkey's constructive stance and not exploit it, avoiding dangerous rhetoric. “Don’t forget: Turkey is no longer the Turkey it used to be, and the world is no longer the world confined to the sphere of influence of Western states,” he said.

The Turkish leader noted that a new multipolar world order is being formed, where the role of regional cooperation is increasing, and Turkey is ready to become one of the poles of this system. He stressed that today Europe's need for Turkey is greater than the other way around, and this demand will continue to grow.

Erdogan added that Europe is at a crossroads: either utilize Turkey's power to emerge from its deadlock or allow rhetoric of isolation to overshadow its future. He expressed hope that European officials will abandon their prejudices and focus on equal and sincere relations, which serve the interests of the entire continent.