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📰 Trump’s oil demand

📰 Trump’s oil demand

and EU faces new challenges

Ross Crabtree & Billy Robinson
January 24, 2025

Welcome back,

In Europe, Ireland names a new Taoiseach, France issues an arrest warrant for al-Assad, and the NATO Secretary-General calls for increased defence spending from member states. Meanwhile, in Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares for a diplomatic tour of Central America, and President Trump reinstates the Houthis’ designation as a terrorist organization.

In today's main story, Trump addresses the World Economic Forum in Davos.

More details below ⤵️

Top 5 Stories

1️⃣ 🇨🇩 🇷🇼 DR Congo military confirms fall of critical town to M23: The M23 rebel group has captured Minova, a critical supply route for Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, amid heavy fighting in eastern Congo. South Kivu Governor Jean-Jacques Purusi confirmed the town’s fall, while Congolese army spokesperson Sylvain Ekenge reported ongoing clashes against “the Rwandan army and its proxies.” Accused of supporting M23 with troops and weapons, Rwanda denies involvement. The capture of Minova, just 40 km from Goma, heightens fears of further rebel advances. Local reports suggest government forces were overwhelmed, and many residents, including displaced populations, have fled south. According to the UN, fighting in the area has displaced over 178,000 people since early January, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis. The situation in Minova remains volatile as the conflict continues.

2️⃣ 🇳🇪 🇧🇫 🇲🇱 Sahelian alliance announce joint counter–insurgency operation: The junta-led nations of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali have announced the formation of a joint force of 5,000 personnel to combat escalating extremist violence in the Sahel region, according to Niger’s Defence Minister Salifou Mody. The coalition, which includes air, land, and intelligence resources, aims to coordinate operations across the three countries, which have faced over a decade of insurgencies by groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, including the JNIM. Since military coups in these nations, French forces have been expelled, with the juntas turning to Russian mercenaries for support. Analysts warn that security has deteriorated under junta rule, with more than 3,470 people killed in the past six months and 2.6 million displaced.

3️⃣ 🇵🇦 🇺🇸 🇺🇳 Panama issues complaint to UN over Trump threat, Rubio to visit Central America: Panama formally lodged a complaint with the United Nations on Tuesday, citing a UN Charter article prohibiting threats or use of force against a nation’s territorial integrity or political independence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will embark on his first official trip abroad next week, visiting Central America and the Dominican Republic, including a stop in Panama. Rubio will also travel to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, according to a department spokesperson. She emphasized Rubio’s focus on strengthening regional ties, particularly in addressing illegal migration.

4️⃣ 🇧🇪 🇺🇸 NATO secretary general urges greater spending from member states: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte affirmed U.S. President Trump’s stance on increased European defense spending. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rutte stated, “The problem is Europe,” following criticism from Trump ally Richard Grenell over NATO members, including the Netherlands, failing to meet the 2% GDP defense target. Grenell, now Trump’s envoy for special missions, argued Ukraine’s NATO membership should wait until current members meet their commitments. “Americans fund NATO’s defense, and members must do their part,” he said via video link. Rutte acknowledged that as Dutch prime minister, his country often missed targets but credited Trump for encouraging progress. “European NATO spending has risen, but the 2% target is still insufficient,” Rutte concluded.

5️⃣ 🇺🇸 🇾🇪 Trump re–designates Houthis as terrorist organisation: President Trump has reinstated the designation of Yemen’s Houthi movement as a terrorist organization, reversing President Biden’s 2021 decision to remove the label. The designation, originally imposed by Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, comes amid Houthi attacks on Red Sea cargo ships and projectile launches targeting Israel during its war on Gaza. Aid organizations have raised concerns that this move could exacerbate Yemen’s humanitarian crises, worsening widespread hunger and illness in a nation already struggling under severe conditions.

Major Story

🇺🇸 🇨🇭 🇸🇦 TRUMP SPEAKS TO DAVOS: PRESSURE MOUNTS ON SAUDI ARABIA, OPEC OVER OIL PRICES

Speaking remotely at the World Economic Forum in Davos, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Saudi Arabia and OPEC to lower oil prices, claiming this would help end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. “If the price came down, the war would end immediately,” Trump stated, asserting that high oil prices enable the conflict to persist. He criticized Gulf nations for their inaction, saying, “They should have done it long ago.”

Trump also called on Saudi Arabia to increase its planned investment in the U.S. from $600 billion to $1 trillion over the next four years. The initial figure, announced by Saudi state media, was part of the kingdom’s broader economic and trade expansion strategy. “I’ll be asking the Crown Prince, who’s a fantastic guy, to round it out,” Trump remarked confidently, adding, “I think they’ll do that because we’ve been very good to them.”

The statements follow Trump’s recent discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the kingdom’s international economic goals and bilateral trade. However, Trump’s remarks also placed partial responsibility on Saudi Arabia for global instability, particularly in relation to the energy crisis fueling the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Other News

1️⃣ 🇵🇸 🇮🇱 Israel continues deadly Jenin raids as it ramps up West Bank operations: Israeli forces have intensified their deadly raid in Jenin, displacing approximately 2,000 families and destroying vital infrastructure. Military bulldozers targeted key streets following ground and air assaults that killed at least 10 people across the governorate the previous day. Kamal Abu al-Rub, governor of Jenin, described the situation as “very difficult,” reporting widespread shooting, explosions, and the blockade of roads leading to the Jenin refugee camp and Government Hospital. UNRWA officials have labeled the camp “nearly uninhabitable,” with services severely disrupted. UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese condemned the ongoing violence, denouncing Israel’s military actions as “death machinery.”

2️⃣ 🇫🇷 🇸🇾 France issues arrest warrant for Assad: French judicial authorities have issued a fresh arrest warrant for Syria’s former president Bashar Assad, accusing him of complicity in war crimes related to a 2017 bombing in Daraa, which killed Franco-Syrian national Salah Abou Nabout, French media reported. The warrant, dated January 20, alleges Assad’s involvement as head of Syria’s armed forces, following a 2018 investigation that also targeted six senior military officials believed to have acted on his orders. Assad lost immunity after his regime collapsed in December, ending his 24-year rule. This marks France's second warrant against Assad, following a 2023 order over chemical attacks in 2013. The latest development coincides with discussions between International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan and Syria’s new leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, on ensuring accountability for Assad-era atrocities.

3️⃣ 🇮🇪 Ireland appoints a new taoiseach: Micheál Martin has been confirmed as Ireland's new prime minister after parliament resolved a dispute that delayed his confirmation by a day. In his initial remarks, Martin outlined his principles, EU policy priorities, and commitment to strong US relations. Outgoing prime minister Simon Harris, who will hold a senior role in the new government, introduced Martin, highlighting the contrast between this term and Martin’s first stint as taoiseach (2020–2022) during the pandemic. Harris joked about Martin’s subtle ambition to return to office, but on a serious note, emphasized the significant challenges the government faces amid global geopolitical shifts, alongside pressing domestic issues like housing, healthcare, and disability reform. Martin is finalizing his cabinet, with further updates expected soon.