Bilirakis Introduces Bill Redesignating Turkey's Diplomatic Region to Middle East

Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced a bipartisan bill redesignating the Republic of Turkey's (Turkiye) designation from an Eurasian country to a Middle Eastern one for diplomatic purposes.

Rep. Bilirakis's Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act would require the U.S. State Department to move Turkey's designation from the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs to the Bureau of New Eastern Affairs.

As Rep. Bilirakis explained in his press release, the Turks under President Tayyip Erdogan have strengthened ties with Russia, China, and Iran, sympathized with Hamas, and have expressed belligerence towards Greece, Cyprus, and disputed control of the Aegean Sea.

In October 2023, shortly after the October 7th terror attack in Israel, Erdogan called Hamas "a liberation group" and "mujahideen waging a battle to protect its lands and people."

The Florida Congressman joined several lawmakers in condemning Erdogan's remarks as "appalling" and that they "continue the deeply concerning trend of Turkey under President Erdogan's leadership undermining the peace and security of its democratic neighbors."

As a result, Bilirakis said of the new effort to redesignate Turkey's diplomatic status, "Turkey has consistently demonstrated a complete disregard for following international law. Erdogan repeatedly acts contrary to American interests, with his dangerous behavior contributing to the instability of the region. 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."

Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL), the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act's cosponsor, added, "Turkey is at a crossroads, but Erdogan has made his choice. 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."

In December, after the collapse of the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Syria, Representative Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ) condemned Turkish attacks on Kurdish militants in the region, including the US-backed People's Protection Units (YPG).

"As we evaluate Turkey's recent airstrikes on Syrian Kurds and reports of Hamas operatives in Turkey, it's clear that our alliances must be anchored in mutual respect and shared goals," said Rep. Hamadeh, further adding, "For decades, Turkey has been a strategic partner, but hosting groups like Hamas without clear steps toward dismantling their operations undermines that relationship. Turkey must seize this opportunity to demonstrate it is committed to fighting terror, not enabling it."