Ankara, May 5 -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged European leaders to consider Ankara's long-time bid for membership in the European Union, stating that Turkiye should not be remembered only in times of distress and sidelined otherwise.

In a post on X, Erdogan said Europe is currently at a crossroads, adding that without Turkiye, the EU cannot become a global actor or a "centre of attraction."

"In our relations with the European Union, the issue is not where Ankara stands; it is where Brussels wants to be in the world of the future, where it sees itself. It must now be understood that an EU without Turkey as a full member cannot be a global actor or a centre of attraction. We are not a country to be remembered only in ti...