US Lawmakers Push to Redesignate Turkey as a Near Eastern Nation Amid Growing Concerns Over Ankara’s Foreign Policy
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives is spearheading an effort to officially redesignate Turkey as a Near Eastern country within the U.S. State Department, signaling a growing frustration with Ankara’s increasingly strained relationship with the United States and its NATO allies. The proposed legislation reflects a deep concern that Turkey, under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is actively pivoting away from the West and aligning itself with countries like Russia, China, and Iran, thereby undermining Western security interests.
Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) are leading the charge with the "Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act." This bill seeks to formally shift Turkey’s designation within the State Department from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs. This move, while seemingly administrative, carries significant symbolic weight, representing a fundamental reassessment of Turkey’s place in the geopolitical landscape.
According to Schneider, Turkey’s foreign policy under Erdogan has reached a critical juncture. He asserts that Erdogan has made a clear choice to prioritize relationships that are antithetical to Western values and security concerns. In a statement, Schneider emphasized that Turkey "harbors Hamas operatives, props up Putin’s war machine, and obstructs NATO unity—while still demanding the privileges of a Western ally." He argued that U.S. diplomacy needs to acknowledge the changing reality, stating, "It’s time for American diplomacy to stop pretending that Turkey is still part of Europe."
Bilirakis echoed Schneider’s sentiments, emphasizing that Erdogan’s actions are consistently contrary to American interests and contribute to regional instability. He stressed the need for a more accurate reflection of Turkey’s current conduct in U.S. foreign policy, calling for Erdogan to be held accountable for his administration’s actions. "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," Bilirakis stated.
The Turkish government, however, vehemently objects to the characterization of its foreign policy and its European orientation. An official from the Turkish embassy in Washington asserted that Turkey’s European identity is an "undeniable historical and geostrategic fact." They further emphasized Turkey’s membership in key European institutions like NATO, the Council of Europe, the OSCE, and its associate membership in the EU, arguing that these affiliations demonstrate Turkey’s commitment to European values. "Türkiye’s European identity is an undeniable historical and geostrategic fact. As a strong member of NATO, the Council of Europe, OSCE and an associate EU member, Türkiye is part and parcel of European institutional framework and universal values that these institutions represent," the official stated.
Despite these claims, concerns about Turkey’s trajectory are not limited to Congress. Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, warning that Turkey is increasingly behaving like an adversary. He highlighted Turkey’s "malign domestic and foreign policies that fly in the face of U.S. interests," citing its support for Middle Eastern terrorist groups, including Hamas, and rogue states.
Schanzer also criticized Turkey’s use of its NATO membership to undermine American interests. He pointed to the example of Turkey holding Washington "hostage" by demanding the sale of F-16 fighter jets in exchange for its approval of Sweden and Finland’s admission into the alliance. This instance, along with other actions, has fueled skepticism about Turkey’s commitment to NATO solidarity.
Another major source of concern is Erdogan’s deepening relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine. Turkey’s purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system has been a persistent point of contention with the United States and other NATO allies. Furthermore, while many NATO members imposed economic sanctions on Russia and sought to reduce their energy dependence, Turkey maintained close trade and energy ties with Moscow.
The proposed legislation aims to address these concerns by requiring the State Department to reassign Turkey’s diplomatic status within 90 days of the bill’s passage. Additionally, the bill mandates a five-year congressional review to assess the consequences of Turkey’s realignment away from Europe. This review would provide ongoing oversight and allow Congress to adapt its policies in response to Turkey’s evolving foreign policy.
Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, praised the bipartisan group of legislators for their efforts to address the situation realistically. He believes that the State Department needs to re-evaluate its approach to Turkey and acknowledge the country’s shifting allegiances. "An honest evaluation of the U.S .foreign policy bureaucracy reveals that we have unwittingly granted Turkey a lobby within multiple State Department bureaus, the size of which is wholly undeserved by a country that has, at best, become neither friend nor foe," Zemenides stated, suggesting that Turkey has benefited from an outsized influence within the U.S. foreign policy establishment despite its increasingly questionable behavior.
The potential redesignation of Turkey as a Near Eastern country signifies a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy towards Ankara. This move could have implications for future diplomatic engagement, security cooperation, and economic relations between the two countries. The ongoing debate highlights the growing divide between the United States and Turkey and raises fundamental questions about the future of their alliance. As Turkey continues to navigate its relationships with Russia, China, and Iran, its alignment with the West remains increasingly uncertain, prompting a reassessment of its place in the global order. The "Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act" represents a concrete step towards acknowledging and addressing this evolving reality.
