US lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation proposing the reclassification of Turkey at the State Department due to growing ties between Ankara and countries opposed to Western interests, Fox News [reported](https://www.foxnews.com/world/bipartisan-legislation-seeks-reign-in-erdogans-turkey-over-ties-to-us-foes) on Saturday.
Representatives Brad Schneider, a Democrat from Illinois, and Gus Bilirakis, a Republican from Florida, sponsored the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act. The legislation aims to shift Turkey’s diplomatic designation from the State Department’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.
The lawmakers cited Turkey’s deepening relationships with Russia, China, Iran and Hamas as the primary reason for the proposed realignment. These ties, they argue, conflict with the security interests of the West and NATO.
“Turkey is at a crossroads, but Erdogan has made his choice,” Schneider said in a statement quoted by Fox News. “His government harbors Hamas operatives, supports Putin’s war efforts, and undermines NATO unity — yet still demands privileges as a Western ally.”
Bilirakis claimed that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s actions frequently undermine US interests and create regional instability.
In response, the Turkish government strongly rejected this characterization. An official from Turkey’s embassy in Washington, speaking to Fox News, highlighted Turkey’s historical and strategic integration in Western institutions, including NATO, the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), as well as its associate membership in the European Union.
Jonathan Schanzer, executive director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, testified before Congress that Turkey often acts contrary to US policy goals, citing Ankara’s relationship with groups such as Hamas and its dealings with Russia.
Turkey’s decision to purchase Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, refusal to enforce strict sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine and strategic trade ties with Moscow further illustrate Ankara’s drift from traditional Western alliances, according to his testimony.
The proposed legislation would require the State Department to complete Turkey’s diplomatic reassignment within 90 days and provide Congress with a five-year review examining the impact of Turkey’s shift away from Europe.