The President's Daily Brief - January 21st, 2025: Putin Issues ‘World War III’ Warning to Trump & Houthi Rebels Back Down

Episode Date: January 21, 2025

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The world reacts to Donald Trump’s inauguration, with Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating him on Russian television and urging him to avoid starting World War Three. Yemen’s Houthi rebels announce a shift in strategy, declaring they will stop targeting international shipping and focus exclusively on Israeli-affiliated vessels in the Red Sea. Over 80 people have been killed in Colombia’s Catatumbo region during three days of escalating violence. We’ll bring you the latest details from South America. And in today’s Back of the Brief, President Trump orders U.S. troops to the southern border after designating the Tren de Aragua gang as a foreign terrorist organization. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Hey, Mike Baker here. on an epic camel trek through the deserts of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. 700 miles in about four weeks, all to raise awareness for the U.K. Special Forces Benevolent Fund. And if you're wondering, well, there are very few comfortable ways to sit on a camel. Now, while I'm away, my good friend Mike Slater is stepping in to keep you informed here on the PDB. Thanks, Mike. It's Tuesday, 21 January, 2025. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. Mike Slater filling in for Mike Baker. Let's get briefed. Coming up in today, spotlight. The world reacts to Donald Trump's inauguration, including Russian President Vladimir Putin,

who appeared on Russian television to congratulate Trump on his win and urge him to avoid starting World War III. Later in the show, Yemen's Houthi rebels announce a shift in strategy, stating they'll stop targeting international shipping and focus solely on Israeli-affiliated ships in the Red Sea. I wonder if that is anything to do with the new president of America. Plus 80 people, lost their lives in Colombia's Catatumbo region during three days of escalating violence. We'll have the details from South America. And in today's back of the brief, President Trump has reportedly ordered U.S. troops to the southern border, following his designation of the Tren de Aragua gang as a foreign terrorist organization.

The first, today's PDB spotlight. Donald Trump was sworn into office yesterday as the 47th president of the United States, and reactions from world leaders have begun pouring in, including from Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, who urged Trump to avoid starting World War III. During a televised meeting of Russia's Security Council on Monday, Putin offered his congratulations to Trump on his return to office, specifically praising the president's desire to reestablish direct diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Russia, which were severed following Putin's February 22 invasion of Ukraine. It was a marked departure from the Kremlin's stance back in early November when they refused to congratulate Trump

on his victory, citing what they described as the U.S.'s' unfriendly stance towards Moscow, according to a report from Reuters. Putin said he was now ready to engage with the Trump administration on the subject of reigning in nuclear arms and ending the war in Ukraine, though he qualified his statements, warning that Russia's territorial gains in eastern Ukraine must be accepted by the West if they want talks to get off the ground. Putin said, quote, we see these statements by the newly elected president of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia. We also hear his statements about the need to do everything possible to prevent World War III. We, of course, welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected

president of the United States of America on taking office. Relations between the U.S. and Russia have, of course, significantly deteriorated over the last three years, fall into their lowest level since 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis due to Russia's war on Ukraine. But Trump's return has fostered a cautious sense of optimism in international circles that the two global powers can begin mending fences. Tackling the issue of Ukraine will be easier said than done for President Trump. As we've been tracking on the PDB, Trump has previously stated that he could end the war within 24 hours of assuming office. Though we walked back those lofty ambitions earlier this month, telling reporters he hoped to resolve the conflict within six months. Separately, retired General Keith Kellogg,

Trump's nominee for special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, has set a goal of ending the war within Trump's first 100 days. Putin claims he's long been open to dialogue and diplomacy regarding the nearly three-year-old conflict, though many in the West remain skeptical that his supposed interest in a peace deal is genuine. Those concerns are compounded by the fact that so far the Kremlin's rough proposals for peace amount to little more than a full Ukrainian surrender.

Putin reiterated on Monday that Moscow is no interest in a limited ceasefire, and will only accept a long-lasting peace deal that allows Russia to keep the roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory that they've seized since 2022, and prevents Ukraine from ever joining the NATO alliance. Officials in Ukraine, meanwhile, warned President Trump not to Russia in negotiations with the Putin regime, saying it would be a catastrophic mistake to begin talks while Ukrainian forces are fighting to gain the advantage on the battlefield. A senior advisor to the Ukrainian president Zelensky noted that Kiev's forces are currently having great security. targeting Russian energy infrastructure and that they need time to let that campaign play out. The advisor said, quote, we need to be able to keep up this kind of pressure if we are to enter negotiations from a position of strength. Only if Russia is suffering losses will it be willing to negotiate meaningfully. How Trump's return will impact the conflict is anyone's guess,

but the president has indicated he plans to meet with both Zelensky and Putin shortly to begin peace talks. Zelensky also congratulated Trump on his inauguration and said he looked at forward to engaging in, quote, active and mutually beneficial cooperation. Late last night, among the signing of many executive orders, Trump said to reporters, I have to speak to President Putin, and we're going to have to find out. But he can't be thrilled. He's not doing so well. He's grinding it out. He made the point that many people thought Russia would defeat Ukraine in just a week. And here we are many years later. Moving on from the war in Ukraine, Trump was inundated on Monday

by well wishes from heads of state and leaders across the world, whether from you European allies, the Vatican, NATO leadership, or Eastern powers like India, the messages were universally positive. Notably, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump for help to secure a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza and said he and Trump will work together to, quote, raise the U.S.-Israel alliance to even greater heights. We expect the congratulatory messages to continue pouring in over the next few days as Trump kicks off his second term. Coming up after the break, Yemen's Houthi rebels announce that they'll stop targeting international national shipping in the Red Sea. And over 80 are dead after violent clashes in Colombia's

Katatumbo region. Details ahead. The crispy chicken sandwich from 7-Eleven, people always call me loud. And I'm like, yeah, I know. I'm crispy. Did you expect me to whisper? If you want quiet, go eat some soup and reflect. Like, I know I'm a handful. I'm bold. I'm juicy. Throw some pickles and barbecue sauce on me, and baby I'm a whole meal. And with seven rewards, I'm just $4. Quiet. No. Crispy, saucy, and $4.00. Very only at 7-Eleven. Valley through 62326

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And when you see the money side, you understand what others miss. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now at Bloomberg.com. Welcome back to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Slater, filling in from Mike Baker. Turning to the Middle East, the Iranian-backed Houthi militants of Yemen are shifting their strategy in the wake of the ceasefire agreement

between Israel and Hamas and Gaza. The terror group said Sunday that they would stop their attacks on international commercial vessels and American and British naval ships in the Red Sea, and instead limit their strikes to only Israeli-affiliated vessels. Regarding Israeli ships, they said, their attacks would only stop upon the full implementation of all phases of the ceasefire agreement, according to an exclusive report from the Associated Press. The group warned, however, that any breakdown in the fragile truce or direct attacks in Yemen would prompt them to resume

wider assaults on international ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eden, which they described as a form of, quote, sanctions. The militants said, quote, we affirm that in the event of any aggression against the Republic of Yemen by the United States of America, the United Kingdom, or the usurping Israeli entity, the sanctions will be reinstated against the aggressor. The Iranian-backed Houthis delivered their message in an email to international shippers on Sunday, though analysts say it will likely do little to encourage global firms to re-enter the critical shipping route, which prior to the Houthi attacks, accounted for more than 12% of global trade volume and 30% of global container shipping volume. Over the past year, Houthi attacks

have significantly disrupted this vital economic lane, causing commercial traffic through the region to drop by half. Many shipping companies have instead been diverting their ships around southern Africa to avoid being attacked, leading to longer shipping journeys and, of course, higher costs. For now, shipping companies appear to be taking a wait and sea approach. The head of security for BIMCO, the largest international shipowners association, told the AP, quote, the ceasefire is considered fragile. It is assessed that even minor deviations from the ceasefire agreements could lead to hostilities, which would subsequently prompt the Houthis to again direct threats against a broader range of international shipping.

Remarks on Monday from the Houthi Supreme Leader also left doubt over whether it is safe to return to the troubled waters. The group's leader warned their, quote, ready to return to escalation again alongside our brothers should the ceasefire break down. As a reminder, the Houthis began relentlessly attacking Israel and international shipping vessels in the wake of last year's 7 October attacks by Hamas. To date, they fired more than 200 missiles and a hundred. 170 drones at the Jewish state and carried out more than 100 attacks on merchant ships in the

Red Sea, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing four mariners. Shifting to Columbia, more than 80 people have been killed in just three days of escalating violence in the country's northeast after fallout from collapsed peace talks between the government and the terrorist guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army, also known as ELN. This outbreak has plunged the Katatumba region into chaos. placing thousands of civilians who now huddle in shelters or seek refuge in remote mountainous areas. One displaced resident captured the desperation of the moment, stating, quote, we had no time to grab our things. We're helpless here.

Government officials are calling this one of the deadliest spirals of violence in recent memory. So why this happened? Well, the violence erupted last week after the ELN launched a coordinated assault on ex-members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia, or FARC, who have resumed armed activities to annex drug trafficking routes despite a 2016 peace deal. The Katatumbo region, a strategic nexus for drug trafficking, has long been a flashpoint as guerrilla groups vie for control.

For the ELN, securing this area essential to expanding its communist ideology and operations. Colombian president Gustavo Petro, who campaigned on advancing peace, suspended negotiations with the ELN on Friday, accusing the group of war crimes. In a post on X the same day, Petro stated, quote, the ELN has no will for peace. It's the second collapse of talks in less than a year, underscoring the fragile nature of attempts to end Colombia's decades-long international conflict. With an estimated 6,000 fighters across Colombia and Venezuela, the ELN has long sought recognition as a political entity, a demand that would emboldened the group.

As the government moves to stabilize the region, more than 5,000 soldiers have been deployed. the defense minister underscores the urgency pledging to, quote, guarantee the security of communities. But civilians remain in the crossfire. According to a government officials report, among the dead are a community leader and seven individuals who sought to sign the ELN and government peace deal. While the ELN denies targeting civilians, claiming its operations focused solely on former FARC guerrillas, their rhetoric offers little solace. On Saturday, the ELN issued a statement accusing FARC factions of initiation. violence against civilians, warning that continued attacks left, quote, no other way out than armed confrontation. The humanitarian toll is staggering. Over 8,000 people have been displaced,

many lacking necessities. Government relief efforts sent 10 tons of aid. Yet the scope of the crisis threatens to overwhelm resources. Compounding the instability, the violence risks spilling over into neighboring Venezuela, which remains mired in a political crisis under Nicolas Maduro's regime. Meanwhile, in northern Colombia, the ELN's also clashing with the Gulf Clan, the country's largest drug cartel. These skirmishes, part of a broader struggle to control lucrative drug trafficking corridors, have left at least nine dead in recent days. As territorial disputes escalate, Colombia's fragile peace hangs by a threat, with a resolution remaining elusive. Coming up in the back of the brief, President Trump orders U.S. troops to the southern border, after labeling the Tren de Aragua gang a foreign terrorist organization. We'll be back with more on that.

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overhauling America's border policy. The orders include the deployment of troops to the border and designating violent migrant gangs like Venezuela's Train Day Aragua as a foreign terrorist organization. According to Fox News, these actions will place unprecedented emphasis on the military's northern Command, with an undisclosed number of troops tasked with securing the southern border. A Trump transition source emphasized the administration's resolve to assert sovereignty over U.S. territory, which, by the way, is the point of Northern Command. The source said, quote, the armed forces have a role to play in protecting our borders. The designation of Tren de Aragua and El Salvador's MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization

marks a fierce escalation in the fight against transnational criminal networks. This move grants the federal government expanded legal tools to prosecute gang members and their associates. This action follows their coverage here on the PDB of growing concerns over Trendera Agua's violent activities, including gangbangers violently seizing an apartment complex in Colorado, which captured national headlines, flooding the streets of New York City with crime and the alleged rape of murder of a 12-year-old in Houston, just to name a few sinister. acts here in America. Texas Governor Greg Abbott in October publicly called on then-border czar, Vice President Kamala Harris, to address the national security threat posed by Trane de Aragua.

Yet under the Biden-Harris administration, the gang remained undisturbed, a choice that Trump is determined to reverse. Trump's orders also dismantle key Biden-era immigration policies, the CBP One app, Customs Border Patrol One app, which facilitates migrant entry. requests will be scrapped. It's gone. It's already gone. If you open the app, it says, sorry, this doesn't exist anymore. The humanitarian parole program, which grants special consideration to migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, it's also over. Meanwhile, Trump plans to reinstate the remain in Mexico policy, requiring asylum seekers to await hearings in Mexico and resume border wall construction. Trump's administration will also halt the

catch and release policy, which allows detained migrants to enter the U.S. while awaiting their court proceedings. Whether or not they show up, no one knows. Speaking to supporters at a rally on Sunday, Trump pledged swift action, starting, quote, by the time the sunsets Monday, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt. The 47th president's rhetoric signals a return to the hardline measures that defined his first administration with national security and immigration enforcement at the forefront of his policy agenda. And that is the President's Daily Brief for Tuesday, 21 January. To listen to this show ad-free, you can become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief

by visiting pdb Premium.com. I'm Mike Slater. filling in for the great Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay safe. Spread the word. Ryan Reynolds here from Midmobile, the message. for everyone paying big wireless way too much.

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