Bipartisan Action to Redefine Turkey’s Diplomatic Classification Amid Stringent Foreign Policy Changes

Bipartisan lawmakers, led by Reps. Schneider and Bilirakis, propose new legislation to redesignate Turkey as a Near Eastern country in the State Department, in light of its waning ties with the U.S. and worsening relations with NATO allies. The initiative highlights Turkey’s increasing alignment with Russia, Iran, and Hamas, and seeks to reassess its diplomatic status to reflect these changes accurately.

A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers, led by Representatives Brad Schneider and Gus Bilirakis, is advocating for legislation aiming to redesignate Turkey as a Near Eastern country within the U.S. State Department. This proposed change arises due to Turkey’s increasing alignment with non-Western powers such as Russia, China, Iran, and Hamas. They seek to relocate Turkey’s classification from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, highlighting Ankara’s deviation from its Western allies.

Representative Schneider emphasized the critical juncture Turkey faces, stating, “Turkey is at a crossroads, but Erdogan has made his choice.” He condemned actions taken by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, which he claims undermine NATO unity, while still seeking the benefits of Western alliances. Schneider asserted that American diplomacy needs to recognize the shift in Turkey’s position more candidly.

Representative Bilirakis echoed Schneider’s sentiments, noting Erdogan’s consistent actions counter to American interests which threaten regional stability. He asserted the necessity for U.S. foreign policy to reflect the true nature of Turkey’s current behavior and to hold Erdogan accountable for these actions.

The Turkish government has contested these congressional views regarding its foreign policy positioning, asserting that its European identity is historically and strategically significant. A Turkish embassy official maintained that Turkey retains a central role in various European institutions and supports shared universal values.

Jonathan Schanzer of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies articulated concerns during a House hearing, labeling Turkey’s actions as adversarial. He pointed to Turkey’s support for terrorist organizations and their misuse of NATO membership to leverage U.S. support for military hardware, like F-16 fighter jets, in exchange for approval of Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership.

Erdogan’s foreign policy choices have increasingly favored Russia, notably through the procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, while Turkey continues to engage in trade and energy partnerships with Russia amidst widespread sanctions from the NATO alliance.

The proposed legislation mandates a reassignment of Turkey’s diplomatic status within 90 days while initiating a five-year congressional review on the implications of Turkey’s shift away from Europe. Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, commended the legislators for advocating a more realistic approach in dealing with Turkey.

Zemenides remarked, “An honest evaluation of the U.S. foreign policy bureaucracy reveals that we have unwittingly granted Turkey a ‘lobby’ within multiple State Department bureaus,” calling attention to the incongruity of Turkey’s current diplomatic leverage given its recent trajectory.

This bipartisan initiative underscores the concern among U.S. lawmakers regarding Turkey’s alignment away from Western interests and towards nations that contradict U.S. strategic goals. The legislation aims to formalize this assessment within the U.S. State Department, emphasizing a need for diplomatic clarity and accountability concerning Turkey’s actions under President Erdogan. The move reflects growing apprehension over Turkey’s foreign relations and their implications for regional stability and military alliances.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com