Erdoğan Warns EU: Avoid Rhetoric Undermining Turkey's 'Constructive Stance'

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the European Union at a post-cabinet press conference, warning EU leadership to 'refrain from actions and rhetoric that could undermine Ankara's constructive stance.' Erdoğan stated: 'Türkiye is no longer the old Türkiye, nor is the world still confined to the sphere of influence of Western states.' The statement came weeks after EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen grouped Turkey alongside Russia and China as states from which the EU must protect itself — a comment that triggered a Turkish diplomatic protest. Separately, the European Parliament's security committee voted to exclude Turkey from defense-related Horizon Europe research components for 2028-2034. EU-Turkey accession talks remain effectively frozen since 2018. The exchange reflects heightened tensions over Turkey's strategic positioning between Western alliance structures and independent geopolitical engagement with Russia and China.