US Immigration Crisis: Mexico’s AMLO Provides Diplomatic Masterclass

Sputnik correspondent Russell Bentley (@TXDPR) writes that US President Joe Biden has been decisively outmanuevered by his Mexican counterpart, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO).

On the one hand, the Biden administration desperately wants Mexico’s help in solving the growing crisis on America’s southern border. However, AMLO has presented Biden with his own set of demands — $20 billion in aid, removal of US sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela, and 10 million visas for Hispanic immigrants in the US.

“This is a brilliant and very powerful move by AMLO. He's got the Biden regime by the short hairs, and knows that if the border crisis is not solved, it will not only jeopardize the election, but the federal relationship with Texas, which is the second largest US state in terms of geography (268,000 square miles) population (30 million) and economy ($2+ Trillion).

AMLO's demands not only help Mexico and strengthen ties between Mexico and all the countries his demands will help. If they are met, it will change the entire power dynamics of Central America and the Caribbean regions.”

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The Ukraine aid-border security supplemental bill is a train wreck and has no chance of passing the US House of Representatives, said US Senator Ted Cruz

The White House and Senate have been involved in weeks-long negotiations to reach a deal on President Joe Biden's national security supplemental request that includes more than $60 billion for Ukraine. Republican lawmakers want the supplemental bill to include meaningful policy changes that will end the crisis on the US southern border.

"This supplemental bill is a kamikaze plane in a box canyon, with no exit headed for a train wreck," Cruz said during a press conference. "The chances of this bill passing the house are 0.000%. It ain't gonna pass."

Senator Rick Scott also said at the press conference that the supplemental bill will be "dead on arrival" if it reaches the House of Representatives.

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🎙 Check out AfroVerdict's latest podcast to take a mind-blowing trip into the heart of Sierra Leone's frightening novelty of adding human bones to "Kush" – a potent synthetic drug rampaging through the streets of Freetown.

Western claims that Russia is allegedly planning to attack NATO is an information warfare to justify the West's current hybrid warfare against Russia, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin has told Sputnik.

"This is indeed an information warfare waged by the Western bloc against Russia and the population of its own countries to justify the existing hybrid aggression of the West against Russia," Naryshkin said.

In January, German newspaper Bild reported that it had obtained a "secret document" prepared by the German armed forces alleging that Russia has a plan to attack NATO's eastern flank after a successful counteroffensive against Ukraine and pushback of the Ukrainian army by June. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said later that media reports about Russia's alleged plan for the attack are nothing but fake news.

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Are EU elites funding Ukraine at the expense of their own people?

"You have these European elites who pursue policies that are fundamentally unpopular," Dr. George Szamuely, a senior research fellow at Global Policy Institute, told Sputnik's Final Countdown podcast.

"And then they pursue war policy, which is costing an enormous amount. I mean in terms of energy and sanctions. And then they just transfer in, no questions asked, €50 billion for Ukraine."

The bloc's controversial policies are fanning public discontent, Szamuely said, citing the wave of protests rocking Europe this month, with European farmers protesting energy subsidy cuts and unfair pricing for agricultural products.

"They've withdrawn these subsidies that they've been having and this on top of the exorbitant energy prices in Europe, you know, many ways, due to the sanctions policy on Russia has led to this explosive mix," Szamuely pointed out, referring to Europe's economic decoupling from Russia, as demanded by Washington.

North Korea carried out the first test-fire of the still under-development "new-type strategic cruise missile Pulhwasal-3-31", the North's state-run news agency KCNA reported.

The launch of the cruise missile "had no impact on the security of neighboring countries and has nothing to do with the regional situation," the report said.

The launch of the missile is "a process of constant updating of the weapon system," which is "a regular and obligatory activity of the administration and its affiliated defence science institutes," KCNA cited the sate's Missile Administration as saying.

Last week, a spokesman for the North Korean National Defense Ministry said in a statement carried by KCNA that Pyongyang had tested the still under-development "underwater nuclear weapon system Haeil-5-23" in the Sea of Japan in response to joint three-day naval exercises by the United States, South Korea and Japan involving a US nuclear carrier and other warships.

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Moldovan Defense Minister Anatolie Nosatii denied media reports that F-16 fighter jets that the West will send to Ukraine would be based on the territory of Moldova

Moldovan media and Telegram news channels have reported earlier that American F-16s to be handed over to Ukraine in the future would be based at the Marculesti air base in the north of the republic.

"This information that F-16s would be based on the territory of the republic is inaccurate, and its purpose is to discredit the [Moldovan] Ministry of Defense. I condemn and dismiss these lies... I urge citizens and the media to get information from credible sources," Nosatii told a government briefing.

Western countries have been providing Ukraine with military aid since the start of Russia's special military operation in February 2022. The support evolved from lighter artillery munitions and training to heavier weapons, including tanks and jets.

Russian officials have repeatedly voiced concerns that arms supplied to Ukraine will eventually end up on the black market and fall into the hands of terrorists or criminal organizations, thus jeopardizing the security of the entire Europe and increasing the risk of a direct clash between Russia and NATO.

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US military ship had suffered a "direct hit" as a result of clashes between its forces and several American warships in the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, said Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree.

"A clash occurred today between a number of American destroyers and warships in the Gulf of Aden and Bab al-Mandab while they were protecting two American commercial ships. The result of the clash was as follows: - A direct hit on an American vessel. - Forcing the two American commercial vessels to withdraw and return," Saree said in a statement on X.

The spokesman said the movement used "a number of ballistic missiles" during clashes that lasted for more than two hours, adding that "several missiles struck their targets despite warships' attempts to intercept them."

Earlier in the day, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said the Houthis had attacked US-flagged, owned, and operated container ship Maersk Detroit in the Gulf of Aden, adding that one missile had landed in the sea and two other missiles had been shot down.

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Some Biden's fellow Democrats do not believe he will win the election, reports Bloomberg.

Democratic lawmakers told the agency on condition of anonymity that they see the current president as an outsider in an increasingly likely rematch with Trump.

Some in the Democratic Party are concerned about Biden's chances against Trump, who is leading in the polls.

"The behind-the-scenes alarm underscores concerns about Biden’s path to a second term and makes for a contrast to public shows of solidarity" says agency.

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89% of the French support the farmers' protests that have erupted in France, an Odoxa-Backbone Consulting poll for Le Figaro newspaper showed on Wednesday.

According to the poll, the level of support for the farmers' protests reaches 97% among the supporters of France's Republican Party.

Some 78% of the French believe that the European Union's agricultural policy is having a negative impact on the business of French farmers. The majority of French citizens, or about 83%, also said French President Emmanuel Macron does not sufficiently support the country's farmers — the opinion shared by 58% of those supporting Macron's Renaissance party.

Since last Thursday, farmers in France have been blocking highways and dumping manure and waste in front of government buildings across the country. The farmers are demanding recognition of the importance of their profession and denouncing the government's agricultural policies, which they believe make them uncompetitive.

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Continued attacks on the US in Iraq and Syria highlight the US’ vulnerability, Dr. Seyed Mohammad Marandi told Radio Sputnik’s Critical Hour.

“The American government has taken the Iraqi government hostage,” Dr. Marandi explained. “The US is despised because of these policies. And if the US had treated Iraq as a friend, if it had treated the government with respect, then US interests in Iraq would be a much higher priority for everyone.”

He explained that a softer approach, like that taken by Russia and China, has been much more effective, allowing them to expand their economic interests. “When it comes to the Americans, everyone wants to have the minimum amount that they can have, that will keep the Americans quiet,” Dr. Marandi explained, saying that the US government is seen as a thug around the world. “ But when it comes to [Russia and China] … they want as much as is possible.”

But it's the US’ inability to stop the attacks that change the perception of the US around the world.

“Now that they're regularly targeting American positions, the Americans have lost that aura,” he explained. “If you can just every day lob a few rockets or fire a few missiles, then it shows they're not a real power. They're vulnerable. They're weak,” he added.

The comments come after another attack on the al-Assad Airbase, during which some US troops were injured. The attack also renewed calls from the Iraqi government for US troops to leave the country.

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These youthful faces of the multipolar world remind us that even the powerful leaders we admire for their strength and resilience were once innocent children and naive teenagers, just like any of us. 🎈

Please share in the comments below which of these young faces captivated you the most. 👇

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The future of warfare will resemble an episode of “Black Mirror” or the “Terminator” movie franchise, Mark Sleboda, a foreign relations and security expert told Radio Sputnik’s Fault Lines on Wednesday.

“This is all going to compound and steamroll going forward,” Sleboda explained. “Underwater drones, maritime drones, [they are] changing not only ground warfare and air warfare, but changing naval warfare as well, all very rapidly, and [control is] slipping out of [major world powers].”

Additionally, the changing military battlefield, along with “global shifts of capital from the West to the East, the rising of China and the resurgence of Russia [and] Iran emerging as a serious regional power, mostly due to the US taking out Iraq,” has made the US realize its global hegemony “is fading out of its grip,” Sleboda argued. He added that has pushed the US “to provoke conflicts with their potential hegemonic rivals.”

He warned that this could be the start of the next World War.

“We've already seen this World War start, and it's not starting with a big bang and two sides, but it's starting with a series of local and proxy wars. And those wars aren't really dying down. They're just piling on top of each other,” he said, pointing to Yemen and Syria as examples, as well as rising tensions in Korea and the Taiwan Strait.

“There’s so much possibility for insanity,” Sleboda lamented.

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Iran has become a "legitimate target" for Israel's missile strikes for supporting armed movements opposing Israel, said Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat.

"Iran is a legitimate target for Israel ... The head of the snake is Tehran. My recommendation is to adopt the strategy that [US] President [John F.] Kennedy used in the Cuban missile crisis. What he basically said then was a missile from Cuba will be answered with a missile to Moscow ... And we should very very clearly make sure the Iranians understand that they will not get away with using proxies against Israel," Barkat said in an interview with The Telegraph.

Barkat told the newspaper that Israel could afford to keep fighting and open up a new front with Lebanon despite military spending of over $250 million a day. He also said that the war in Gaza had not been fought "aggressively enough," adding that Palestinians from the West Bank would never be allowed to work in Israel again and would be replaced by over 250,000 workers from abroad.

On October 7, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 20,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said.

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At least 400 Americans have died in Ukraine and the US authorities are concealing this information, said former Pentagon Adviser Col. Douglas Macgregor.

"Our friend [US Senator] Lindsey Graham said we should be so grateful no Americans have died in Ukraine. This is a Lie. We know that at least 400 Americans have died whether they are contractors or in uniform," Macgregor said on X without saying where the number came from.

Macgregor added that the Biden administration "won't say this and it won't be published by the media."

The former Pentagon official also believes that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "will end up in one of his mansions in Cyprus or Italy or possibly end up in Florida" when the Ukraine conflict is over, adding that "this whole thing is a scam and the Ukrainians have been exploited by the United States."

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More than 130 fighters from the neo-Nazi Kraken unit and Russian Volunteer Corps* were eliminated in Kharkov by Russian forces on Wednesday night, Sergey Lebedev, coordinator of the Nikolaev resistance movement, told Sputnik, citing his sources from Kharkov.

The strikes were carried out near where French mercenaries were destroyed on January 17, Lebedev said.

More than 100 members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were also eliminated in the city of Balakleya, Kharkov region, Lebedev added.

The so-called Russian Volunteer Corps is part of the neo-Nazi Kraken unit, formed by the leaders of the Azov** Regiment and the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

*Russian Volunteer Corps is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.
**Azov Battalion is a terrorist organization banned in Russia.

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▪️ Need to buy time to cover up for Ukraine? France rejects Russia's request to hold a UN Security Council meeting on the downed Il-76

▪️ North Korea launches its new ‘top-notch’ Pulhwasal-3-31 strategic cruise missile

▪️ At least 400 Americans have died in Ukraine, former Pentagon advisor Col. Douglas Macgregor says

▪️ A US warship suffered a "direct hit" as a result of clashes between Houthi forces and several American naval vessels

Check out more stories:

▪️ Why have European farmers and workers gone on strike?

▪️ Are EU elites funding Ukraine at the expense of their own people?

▪️ What’s the price tag for seizing Russian assets? $288 billion

▪️ How Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has outmaneuvered Joe Biden

▪️ Reality continues to highlight the US’ vulnerability

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Key points of Director of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Sergey Naryshkin’s interview to Sputnik:

▪️ Today, as the West is losing on Ukrainian soil, the probability of carrying out a variety of provocations is very high.

▪️ The West will organize new provocations against Russia, but they will not have a long-lasting effect, because lies are quickly exposed today.

▪️ The crisis in Ukraine provoked by the Western bloc "gives many examples of the fact that the United States, United Kingdom, and their allies are ready to resort to the most heinous provocations in order to change the course of events in their favor.”

▪️ The collective West, losing its hegemony, is rushing in rage like a wounded animal, lashing out in all directions, and this is very dangerous.

▪️ The Anglo-Saxons, if they are not stopped, are ready to drag the rest of the world into the vortex of history.

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⚡️ Both flight recorders of the Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft shot down by Ukraine have been found at the crash site in the Belgorod region and are in good condition, a representative of the emergency services told Sputnik