US lawmakers propose reclassifying Türkiye as Middle Eastern nation amid shifting alliances
In this handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on February 24, 2025, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with European leaders and Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau (front R) listen to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivering a speech during a meeting in Kyiv, to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (AFP Photo)
A bipartisan coalition of United States House members has proposed legislation to officially reclassify Türkiye from a European to a Middle Eastern country in the U.S. State Department’s classification. Spearheaded by Representatives Brad Schneider (D-IL) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), the move aims to reflect Türkiye’s perceived pivot away from Western alliances towards adversaries of the United States.
In a statement, the bill’s sponsors emphasized the importance of this legislative change, claiming that it sends a clear message to Ankara.
They claimed that Türkiye‘s growing ties with Russia, China, and Iran, along with its support for Hamas and assertive military stance toward Greece and Cyprus, were cause for concern.
According to the sponsors, these actions undermine Western security interests and reflect what they describe as Türkiye’s “increasingly anti-Western posture” and shift away from its European aspirations.
U.S. Representative Schneider stressed the urgency of the bill, stating, “Türkiye stands at a crossroads, but Erdogan has made his choice. His government supports Hamas operatives, backs Putin’s war efforts, and disrupts NATO unity while demanding the benefits of a Western ally. American diplomacy must recognize that Türkiye is no longer aligned with Europe.”
The legislation falls under the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance banner, with support from Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). This initiative follows recent congressional hearings that raised concerns about Türkiye’s role within the U.S. alliance framework.
Additionally, the proposed bill requires the State Department to report to Congress on the implications of Türkiye’s shift away from Europe.
Türkiye lifeline to EU
Such a step comes after recent statements and reports highlighting Türkiye’s crucial role in European security. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently emphasized, “It is becoming increasingly impossible for Europe to continue as a global actor without Türkiye taking its rightful place.”
“It is Türkiye and its full EU membership that can save the European Union from its deadlock, ranging from the economy to defense and from politics to international standing,” Erdogan also stated.
He also added that Türkiye can throw a “lifeline” to the EU’s rapidly aging economy and work force.
Türkiye as guarantor of Europe’s defense autonomy
Meanwhile, Türkiye emerges as a potential guarantor of Europe’s defense autonomy, according to a Greek academician’s recent article.
Recalling the intensified negotiations between Türkiye and major European powers on the future of European security architecture, Stavros Ioannidis, an assistant professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, stated, “While the Old Continent seems weak to stand on its own two feet defensively, Türkiye, through its President Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, clearly says that only it can save the EU from the impasse in the economy, defense, and politics.”
