A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act, aiming to reclassify Turkey as a Near Eastern country rather than a European one at the U.S. State Department. The bill, led by Reps. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), reflects growing concerns over Turkey’s geopolitical direction, particularly its deepening ties with Russia, China, Iran, and Hamas, which contradict Western security interests.
Shifting Alliances: Lawmakers’ Concerns Over Turkey’s Foreign Policy
Rep. Schneider argues that Turkey under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has distanced itself from NATO and the U.S., stating:
“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.”
Similarly, Rep. Bilirakis claims that Erdoğan’s foreign policy decisions undermine American interests, exacerbating regional instability.
“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 Pushes Back Against Redefinition
The Turkish government has strongly opposed the move, emphasizing its European identity and institutional ties to NATO, the Council of Europe, OSCE, and the EU. A Turkish embassy official in Washington defended Turkey’s position, stating:
“Türkiye’s European identity is an undeniable historical and geostrategic fact. As a strong member of NATO, Türkiye is part and parcel of European institutional framework and universal values that these institutions represent.”
Turkey’s Strategic Moves and U.S. Concerns
Turkey’s growing alignment with Russia and Vladimir Putin, particularly its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, has been a major point of contention. Unlike most NATO members that imposed economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war, Turkey maintained strong trade and energy ties with Moscow.
Additionally, Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, testified before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, warning that:
“The government of Turkey has become a headache for U.S. policymakers. If Ankara maintains its current trajectory, that headache will soon become a migraine.”
Legislation Details and Expected Impact
The proposed Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act would:
- Reassign Turkey’s diplomatic status from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs within 90 days.
- Require a five-year congressional review assessing the consequences of Turkey’s geopolitical shift.
Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, praised the move, stating that Turkey frequently acts like an adversary to U.S. interests by supporting Middle Eastern terrorist groups and rogue states.
He also cited Turkey’s controversial NATO stance, particularly its leverage over Sweden and Finland’s NATO accession by conditioning approval on the sale of U.S. F-16 fighter jets.
Outlook: A Strained U.S.-Turkey Relationship
While the bill does not affect Turkey’s NATO membership, its passage could further strain diplomatic relations between Washington and Ankara. The U.S. realignment of Turkey’s diplomatic classification would signal a formal acknowledgment of Ankara’s shifting alliances, reinforcing broader Western concerns over Turkey’s future role in NATO and its relations with the U.S.