Good morning! It’s February 5, 2025, and we’re bringing you the latest updates in defense and global affairs. Let’s dive into today’s top stories.
Mexico Sends 10,000 Troops After Trump Trade Threat
Mexico began sending troops on Tuesday to its northern border as part of a 10,000-member deployment promised to US President Donald Trump by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The move, aimed at cracking down on illegal migration and fentanyl smuggling, was a key condition in a last-minute deal that delayed Trump’s planned tariffs on Mexican goods.
National Guard forces were spotted boarding planes in Mérida and arriving in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez, where they will conduct foot and vehicle patrols along the border.
Additionally, a joint US-Mexico operation launched in Ciudad Juarez is searching for tunnels used by migrants to cross into the US.
The agreement comes after Trump threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico, a move that rattled markets.
While Sheinbaum insists the deployment won’t weaken security elsewhere in Mexico, critics point to the country’s long-running battle against drug cartels and question whether shifting troops north is a wise move.
Trump Proposes US Takeover of Gaza, Sparking Global Backlash
In a stunning and controversial proposal, President Donald Trump announced a plan for the US to take over Gaza, relocate Palestinians to other countries, and turn the war-torn strip into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The announcement made on Tuesday during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shocked many in attendance.
Trump claimed the plan had backing from the “highest leadership” in the Middle East, though Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar swiftly rejected any notion of forcibly resettling Palestinians.
Palestinian leaders also pushed back hard, calling Gaza their homeland and denouncing the idea. While Trump was vague on details, he suggested US troops could be deployed in Gaza “if necessary.”
Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s out-of-the-box thinking, though Saudi Arabia quickly shut down any hopes of normalizing ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is recognized.
With over 47,500 Gazans killed in Israel’s ongoing military response to Hamas’s October 7 attack, Trump’s plan is almost certain to face strong international resistance.
Meanwhile, Israel’s ceasefire with Hamas remains in place, though Netanyahu has not ruled out more fighting.
Zelenskyy Signals Willingness to Negotiate with Putin
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview posted Tuesday that he’s willing to sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war—but only if it’s the only way to secure peace without further loss of life.
Zelenskyy’s remarks, made in an interview with Piers Morgan, come as Donald Trump returns to the White House, vowing to end the conflict ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Zelenskyy, who described Putin as his “enemy,” hinted that any talks would involve four participants, though he didn’t specify who.
Meanwhile, Putin has rejected the idea of direct talks with the Ukrainian President despite signaling openness to broader negotiations.
With both sides pushing for battlefield gains before any potential deal, Ukraine continues to struggle against Russian advances, and Zelenskyy admitted that retaking all lost territory is unlikely without stronger Western support.
The European Union and Ukraine worry that Trump’s push for negotiations could pressure Kyiv into making unfair concessions to Moscow. For now, Ukraine’s best hope remains NATO membership and long-term security guarantees.
EU Moves to Prosecute Russia for War in Ukraine
After more than two years of debate, European experts have finally agreed Tuesday on the legal framework for a special tribunal to prosecute Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
While discussions have been slow, the return of Donald Trump to the White House appears to have accelerated the process, as European officials fear a Trump-led peace deal could let Moscow off the hook.
The tribunal, backed by 37 countries, is designed to prosecute Russia for the “crime of aggression,” a charge over which the International Criminal Court (ICC) lacks jurisdiction. This move comes after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over the abduction of Ukrainian children.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian prosecutors are investigating over 140,000 alleged war crimes, and the EU is considering joining talks on an International Claims Commission to seek financial compensation from Russia.
Turkey Pledges Support as Syria’s New President Targets Terror
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently welcomed Syria’s new interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, to Ankara, praising his commitment to fighting terrorism in Syria.
Erdogan’s Tuesday visit marks Sharaa’s first official trip since he took power after ousting Bashar al-Assad on December 8.
Turkey played a key role in supporting Sharaa’s Islamist-led rebels and has promised to continue military and operational assistance against militant groups.
Erdogan specifically highlighted the need to target Islamic State (IS) fighters and Kurdish militias, which Turkey sees as a major security threat due to their ties with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers’ Party).
Erdogan also offered Turkey’s help in managing IS prisoner camps in northeastern Syria, which are currently run by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
While the West views the SDF as crucial to controlling jihadist groups, Turkey considers them a terrorist organization and has threatened military action if they do not disband.
With both leaders pledging unity, Erdogan emphasized that joining forces against militant threats is the only way to ensure security in the region.
US Freezes Haiti Security Aid, Stalling UN-Led Mission
The US has frozen $13.3 million in funding for a multinational security mission in Haiti, dealing a setback to an already underfunded Kenya-led force aimed at curbing gang violence.
The freeze is part of President Donald Trump’s broader push to cut foreign aid, including efforts to shut down USAID operations.
The UN-backed Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission was launched in October 2023 to support Haiti’s fragile government, but funding shortfalls and a lack of personnel have slowed its progress.
Out of a planned 2,500 security personnel, only 800 have been deployed, while Haiti’s capital remains under siege by gangs.
UN officials warn that if international aid doesn’t increase, Haiti’s security forces could collapse entirely, allowing gangs to completely overrun Port-au-Prince.
Haiti’s foreign minister described the crisis as an existential threat to the country itself.
The US had previously contributed $15 million to the UN’s voluntary MSS fund—second only to Canada’s $63 million—while separately sending $300 million in equipment and aid under the Biden administration.
However, with Haiti still lacking a president or parliament, the country is struggling to control its worsening violence, which killed over 5,600 people in 2024 and displaced over a million Haitians.
Sources: News Agencies
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