In a new bill filed in the US House of Representatives, Congressmen Gus Bilirakis and Bran Schneider are asking the State Department to change the categorization of Turkey and move it from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of the Middle East.

To date, Turkey has been classified by the US State Department as a “European country.” If the bill is adopted, it would be placed in the same diplomatic category as Iran, Syria and Libya. This bipartisan initiative in Congress is intended to send a message that Washington is carefully monitoring Ankara‘s strategic drift away from the Western camp.

Specifically, the bill requires the State Department to redefine Turkey’s diplomatic status within 90 days and report on the consequences of its withdrawal from Europe.

Gas Bilirakis

“Turkey is showing complete disregard for the observance of international law. Erdogan is systematically acting against American interests and his behavior is exacerbating the already unstable situation in the region. It is time for official U.S. foreign policy to begin to reflect the new reality.”

Bran Schneider

“Turkey is at a crossroads, but Erdogan has made his choice. His government is protecting Hamas operatives, strengthening Putin’s war machine and preventing 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.“

Eddie Zemenides: Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC)

“Turkey has made a clear choice: it no longer sees itself as a European country, nor does it act as a loyal ally of the West. However, U.S. diplomatic structures have not adapted, allowing Turkey to maintain an influence on U.S. foreign policy that no longer reflects reality. Congressmen Snyder, Bilirakis, Gottheimer, Malliotaki, Pope and Titus are taking a necessary step to align U.S. strategy with reality – recognizing Turkey for what it is, not what we hoped it would be.“