Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

We need our own technological platforms to build the prosperity of tomorrow.

If not, Trump can do with us whatever he wants. He can play with us. He can make us slaves — because we actually are slaves then.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

We’ve been accustomed to very nice Presidents like Obama, and we haven’t noticed that the shift in America is not bound to one presidency. It’s a structural shift.

The face of America has turned to the Pacific. Their backside is turned to the Atlantic. And that will not change after Trump. It’s a structural thing.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

Negotiate with Putin, I think, is not a very good idea, because as the Americans said: “if you want to speak, speak softly, but carry a big stick.”

We don’t have a big stick. We can only speak softly.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

People want to join the European Union. Nobody wants to join China. No neighbor of the United States says, “We want to join the United States.” Nobody wants to.

They want to join the European Union just because we have respect. We have the rule of law. We do speak softly.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

Being a happy vassal is one thing. Being a miserable slave is something else.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever:

Russia is not a threat if the West is united. But we are not united.

The economy of Russia is very weak. Their military threat is not very real unless we are divided.

Danish MEP Anders Vistisen to Trump:

Let me put this in words you might understand: Mr. President, fuck off.

NEW: Danish pension fund AkademikerPension plans to sell all its US Treasury holdings by the end of January, citing rising credit risks linked to Trump’s policies.

Source: Bloomberg

Jordan Bardella, leader of France’s far-right party National Rally:

The United States is presenting us with a choice: accept dependency disguised as partnership, or act as sovereign powers capable of defending our interests.

When a U.S. president threatens a European territory while using trade pressure, it is not dialogue—it is coercion. And our credibility is at stake.

Greenland has become a strategic pivot in a world returning to imperial logic. Yielding today would set a dangerous precedent, exposing other European—and even French overseas—territories tomorrow.

The European Union cannot remain silent. The agreement negotiated last summer must be suspended.

Our anti-coercion instruments must be activated, and targeted measures adopted. This is not escalation—it is self-defense.

The choice is simple: submission or sovereignty. Europe must choose freedom, responsibility, and control of its own destiny.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Europe:

Do not retaliate. Do not retaliate.

Have an open mind—why this rapid response?

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

We have Europe buying Russian oil—still, still four years later.

They are financing the war against themselves.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

China is a large buyer of Russian oil, as they are of Iranian oil, as they were of Venezuelan oil.

But guess what, Maria? No more Venezuelan oil for them.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov:

Our objective is to kill 50,000 Russians per month. Last month, 35,000 were killed — all of these losses are verified on video.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov:

Our task is to eliminate Russian drone operators from the battlefield. To form units that hunt specifically for drone operators.

Such units are already being created, but we need to scale the experience gained.

Carney and Macron meet in Davos.

Macron is still wearing his sunglasses indoors.

Türkiye’s state energy company Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO) is in talks with Chevron Corp to jointly explore oil and gas, including seismic studies and drilling.

Source: Bloomberg

LATEST MAP: This is what’s left of SDF/PKK in Syria approximately.

Syrian Army’s rapid advance continues, the map is already outdated.

BREAKING: The Syrian Presidency announced a joint understanding with the SDF on the future of Hasakah Governorate.

Key points:

The SDF has four days to consult and present a detailed integration plan.

Syrian forces will not enter central Hasakah or Qamishli, remaining on the outskirts.

No Syrian military presence in Kurdish villages; local security forces only.

Mazloum Abdi will nominate candidates for Deputy Defense Minister, Hasakah Governor, parliamentary representation, and state employment.

All SDF military and security forces will be integrated into the Ministries of Defense and Interior; civil institutions will join the state structure.

Decree No. 13 on Kurdish linguistic, cultural, and citizenship rights will be implemented.

Implementation begins today at 8:00 PM local time.

READ MORE

Uganda military chief Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba issued threats against opposition leader Bobi Wine, who's in hiding, giving him 48 hours to surrender.

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The same Danish MEP said the same thing to Trump last year, on January 21, 2025.

BREAKING: US Envoy Tom Barrack:

The original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps.