Biden Revises 2019 Executive Order on Syria, Removes References to Türkiye

Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden has amended a 2019 executive order related to the situation in Syria, officially removing references to Türkiye that were previously included in the order.

In a formal notification to Congress, Biden explained that the revisions reflect changing circumstances on the ground in Syria and align with additional measures regarding the national emergency declared under Executive Order 13894. The original order was signed in October 2019 by then-President Donald Trump following Türkiye’s military operation in northern Syria.

On October 9, 2019, Türkiye launched Operation Peace Spring, a cross-border military campaign aimed at eliminating PKK/YPG and Daesh/ISIS terrorist threats along its border. The U.S. administration at the time responded by imposing sanctions on three Turkish officials and two ministries.

Türkiye justified the operation under Article 51 of the UN Charter, citing its right to self-defense against terrorist organizations that had carried out attacks in the region. The PKK, which has waged a violent insurgency against Türkiye for four decades, is designated as a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the U.S., and the EU. Its Syrian offshoot, the YPG, has also been a point of contention between Ankara and Washington.

Biden’s new order, officially labeled Executive Order 14142, modifies Executive Order 13894 by removing references to Türkiye’s 2019 military actions. The specific revision deletes the phrase:
> “and in particular the recent actions by the Government of Turkey to conduct a military offensive into northeast Syria.”

Despite this change, the executive order retains sanctions against individuals or entities involved in activities that threaten Syria’s peace, stability, and territorial integrity, as well as those responsible for serious human rights violations.

This amendment is seen as a diplomatic victory for Türkiye, which has long demanded its complete removal from the 2019 sanctions order. The move is expected to help ease tensions between Ankara and Washington, which have previously clashed over U.S. support for YPG forces in Syria.

The timing of Biden’s decision is significant as it comes just days before he leaves office. Former President Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated on Monday, returning to power after four years. It remains to be seen how the Trump administration’s Syria policy will evolve and whether it will continue to engage with Türkiye on counterterrorism efforts in the region.