Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL)
Schneider, Bilirakis Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Reclassify Turkey as a Middle Eastern country
WASHINGTON – Reps. Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) introduced the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act, aiming to send a clear message to Ankara: The United States recognizes Turkey’s turn to the Middle East and no longer sees Turkey prioritizing its relationship with Europe.
With the introduction of the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act, the lawmakers are formally seeking to move Turkey’s designation at the U.S. State Department from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of New Eastern Affairs—a move that reflects Ankara’s deepening ties with Russia, China, and Iran, its support for Hamas, and its aggression toward Greece and Cyprus are fundamentally at odds with Western security interests.
The move to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs places Turkey in the same diplomatic region as Iran, Syria, and Libya. The shift comes as Turkey embraces an increasingly anti-Western posture, turning away from its European aspirations. It reflects Ankara’s growing authoritarianism and continued hostility toward NATO allies. Under the legislation, the State Department must reassign Turkey’s diplomatic status within 90 days and submit a five-year congressional review on the consequences of Turkey’s realignment away from Europe.
The legislation coincides with a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe hearing, “Bridging the Gap: Turkey Between East and West,” where lawmakers scrutinized Erdogan’s double game between NATO and its adversaries.
“Turkey is at a crossroads, but Erdogan has made his choice,” said Rep. Schneider. “His government harbors Hamas operatives, props up Putin’s war machine, and obstructs NATO unity—while still demanding the privileges of a Western ally. It’s time for American diplomacy to stop pretending that Turkey is still part of Europe.”
“Turkey has consistently demonstrated a complete disregard for following international law,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Erdogan repeatedly acts contrary to American interests, with his dangerous behavior contributing to the instability of the region. The time has come for official U.S. foreign policy to more accurately reflect the realities of this hostile regime’s conduct and for Erdogan to be held accountable.
“Turkey has made a clear choice: it no longer sees itself as a European nation, nor does it act as a committed ally of the West, said Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council Endy Zemenides. “Yet, U.S. diplomatic structures have failed to adjust, allowing Turkey to retain an influence in our foreign policy that no longer reflects its actions or trajectory. Representatives Schneider, Bilirakis, Gottheimer, Malliotakis, Pappas, and Titus are taking a necessary step to realign U.S. strategy with reality—one that recognizes Turkey as it is, not as we once hoped it would be.”
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