Türkiye criticizes US decision to extend executive order on Syria

On Saturday, Türkiye condemned the U.S. decision to extend Executive Order 13894, which pertains to developments in Syria, for an additional year.

“The extension of Executive Order 13894, originally issued in 2019 in relation to Syria, is incompatible with the current realities on the ground,” said Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli in a statement.

The U.S. extended the order on Thursday, citing an “unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States.”

In response, Keceli remarked: “Rather than repeating such prejudiced actions, supporting Türkiye’s policies, which prioritize Syria’s territorial integrity and political unity, would better contribute to regional stability.”

On October 9, 2019, Türkiye launched Operation Peace Spring to eliminate terrorists in northern Syria, with a primary focus on the PKK/YPG terrorist organization, which posed a direct threat to its national security. The operation was conducted under Türkiye’s right to self-defense as outlined in Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, aiming to secure its borders.

At the time, the U.S., which had been collaborating with the PKK/YPG under the pretext of fighting Daesh, declared a national emergency concerning Syria shortly after the operation commenced. The U.S. claimed the conditions in Syria were hindering the fight against Daesh, and the decree also gave the U.S. authority to impose sanctions related to the situation.