Texts Related to U.S. Sanctions on Turkey: Executive Order on Syria-related Sanctions; Syria-related Designations; Issuance of Syria-related General Licenses

(Pix Credit: "Turkish troops and their Syrian allies step up their offensive against Kurdish forces, thrusting into the key border town of Ras al-Ain" (AFP / Nazeer Al-khatib/MANILA BULLETIN))

This Press Release today from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)

Today, the President issued a new Executive Order Blocking Property and Suspending Entry of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Syria​. In addition, OFAC has issued Syria-related General License 1, "Official Business of the United States Government," General License 2, "Authorizing Certain Activities Necessary to the Wind Down of Operations or Existing Contracts Involving the Ministry of National Defence or the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Government of Turkey," and General License 3, "Authorizing Official Activities of Certain International Organizations Involving the Ministry of National Defence or the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Government of Turkey." Finally, OFAC has added the following names to its list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.

Please visit this link for more information on this action.

The text of President Trump's Executive Order follows in its entirety.  It is left for the reader to assess that text in the context of a wholly lamentable situation that perhaps need not have come to pass.  For earlier thoughts on that see here: In Defense of America First: Brief Reflections on the Resignation of James Mattis as U.S. Secretary of Defense. Modest European sanctions may also be on the way.  See, e.g., EU countries agree to suspend arms exports to Turkey).  For reporting from the AP see here (US "Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions will hurt an already weak Turkish economy. Pence said the U.S. will continue to ramp up the sanctions “unless Turkey is willing to embrace a cease-fire, come to the negotiating table and end the violence.”").