A bipartisan group of congressmen introduced a bill this week that seeks to change Turkey's classification in the U.S. State Department from a European country to a Middle Eastern country.
The move is intended to send a clear message to Ankara: The United States recognizes Turkey's turn to the Middle East and no longer sees Turkey as favoring its relations with Europe.
The statement notes that the reclassification is consistent with Turkey’s growing ties with Russia, China, and Iran, its support for Hamas, and its hostile military actions toward Greece and Cyprus, which are “fundamentally contrary to the security interests of the West.”
It also highlights Turkey’s “increasing anti-Western stance,” its distancing from its European aspirations, “growing authoritarianism,” and continued hostility toward its NATO allies.