Posted by BW Actual on Feb 11th 2025
BLACKWATER USA | DAILY BRIEF
Coming Up This Week
- Tech leaders and policymakers are in Paris this week for the AI Action Summit. European leaders have pledged to reduce red tape so EU tech companies can keep up with nimbler American and Chinese rivals, but regulators struggle to grasp the fast-changing technologies they govern. One NYT commentator wrote that observing their struggle felt "like watching policymakers on horseback trying to install seatbelts on a passing Lamborghini."
- On Thursday, France will host an international summit promoting "a fair and inclusive political transition" for Syria. Pres. al Shara plans to attend.
- Friday is Valentine's Day. It's also the first day of the 61st Munich Security Conference.
- The Daytona 500 and NBA All-Star Game take place on Sunday.
Commodity Prices
- Aluminum: $2,659/ton
- Antimony (ingot min. 99.65% fob China): $25,450/ton
- Cobalt: $21,550/ton
- Copper: $9,448/ton
- Gold: $2,911/toz
- Lead: $2,000/ton
- Natural Gas (Nymex): $3.49/MMbtu
- WTI Crude Oil (Nymex): $73.03/barrel
- Zinc: $2,847/ton
Gaza
- Israelis were outraged at the emaciated appearance of the three hostages Hamas released on Saturday, and accused Hamas of mistreating them in captivity.
- That sparked an outburst of cynicism about the fragile ceasefire deal that both sides accuse the other of violating. Now the future of that deal is in doubt, with both sides threatening to walk away.
- Hamas said it would indefinitely delay the next hostage release, which was due to take place this weekend. Pres. Trump ordered Hamas to release all of its remaining hostages by noon Saturday, and threatened that "all hell is going to break out" if it doesn't comply.
DRC
- Tanzania's crisis summit on DRC concluded with regional leaders urging an "immediate and unconditional" ceasefire in eastern Congo within five days.
- However, the two men empowered to enact a ceasefire - DRC's Pres. Tshisekedi and Rwanda's Pres. Kagame - seem disinclined to agree to a truce. Both attended the summit (Tshisekedi only by video link), and both avoided making any commitments to seek peace.
- After intense clashes over the weekend, fighting has somewhat slowed in the past 36 hours as the M23 regroups. The rebels' front lines are now about 40 miles (~60 km) north of Bukavu.
Venezuela
- Following a year of careful investigation, Chile said it had determined that Pres. Maduro's government assassinated Venezuelan dissident Ronald Ojeda in Santiago, where Ojeda was living in exile
- Maduro designated Ojeda a traitor and claimed he was plotting to overthrow the government in Caracas, but vigorously denied ordering his killing. Chile believes Maduro's Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello, personally ordered the hit.
- Separately, the first two flights deporting Venezuelan migrants from the U.S. landed in Venezuela yesterday. U.S. officials said the deportees included alleged members of the Tren de Aragua crime gang, which the Trump administration has targeted in recent raids.
Trade
- Pres. Trump announced new 25% tariffs on all imported aluminum and steel yesterday. The U.S. imports about 25% of its steel and 50% of its aluminum from other countries and produces the balance domestically.
- The new measures will have an outsize impact on trade with Canada, which supplies about one-quarter of U.S. steel imports and the vast majority of U.S. aluminum imports.
Other News
- Ecuador's Pres. Noboa failed to win enough votes in Sunday's election to avoid a runoff. Analysts interpreted the outcome as a gentle rebuke of Noboa's aggressive crackdown on violent crime. Noboa is still favored to win the runoff, which will take place April 13.