Turkiye's border build-up: Is Ankara planning to force Trump’s hand in Syria?

Turkish officials may feel they’ve “lost a golden opportunity” to destroy the YPG/PKK's enclaves in Syria after the collapse of the Assad government.

This perception may explain the reports of a Turkish military buildup on the Syrian border in preparation for a large-scale offensive, Ankara Baskent University international relations professor Hasan Unal explains.

Until now, Ankara may have hoped that the provisional government in Damascus would “deal with the problem” of the Kurds independently, Unal told Sputnik.

However, “whether HTS would be willing to do the job that Turkiye would like to see done is a major question,” he added. The issue has become especially urgent as the outgoing US administration ramps up its support for the Kurds.

If Turkish forces cross the border in the coming days, their “objective” would be to present Donald Trump with a “fait accompli” before or shortly after he takes office, the analyst says.

This could force Trump to commit to withdrawing US troops from the country. In recent weeks, Trump has hinted at this possibility by referring to Turkiye’s role “as the main player over Syria’s future,” Unal noted.

A full-scale Turkish military operation would compel Washington to “basically reassess” the Syrian situation, especially since the primary reason for supporting the Kurds has largely disappeared.

“Given that Syria is no longer a threat to Israel, why would the United States and Israel try to carve out a Kurdish state in the Middle East?” Unal asked.

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🗣 ‘The longer this [conflict] drags on, the worse it is for Ukraine’ – Musk

US billionaire Elon Musk and Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany's right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, held a conversation on X’s Spaces.

Weidel expressed deep hope that US President-elect Donald Trump’s administration would be able to resolve the Ukraine conflict.

💬 “This is also my hope in Donald Trump and in you, in your administration, that you end that terrible war—this worthless, worthless dying of young people every day—like as fast as you can. Because the Europeans, they cannot,” Weidel said.

🗣 “I mean, I think President Trump is going to solve that conflict, I think, very quickly,” Musk reassured.

🗣 “The longer this conflict goes on, the more Ukraine weakens relative to Russia,” the entrepreneur emphasized.

Moscow has made numerous attempts to reach a diplomatic solution with Kiev both before and after it launched its special military operation in early 2022, but the Kiev regime has imposed a ban on negotiations with Russia at the legislative level.

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US House passes bill to sanction ICC for 'unwarranted targeting of Israel'

💬 “America is passing this law because a kangaroo court is seeking to arrest the prime minister of our great ally,” Representative Brian Mast, Republican of Florida and the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said during his remarks on the House floor, as reported by The New York Times.

The bill, called The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, would sanction any individual working to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute American citizens or an official from an allied US country, including Israel.

The bill implies US visa denials for designated ICC officials and their immediate family members, as well as individuals providing "financial, material, or technological support" to the organization, according to the Foreign Affairs Committee statement.

In November, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant citing allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip. US President Joe Biden called the ICC's decision “outrageous.”

The United States is not a member of the ICC and does not recognize its jurisdiction.

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📹 ‘I would fill up the hydrants myself’: California resident challenges Governor Newsom over wildfire response

Rachel Darvish, a lifelong Pacific Palisades resident and lawyer, confronted Governor Gavin Newsom, expressing frustration over the state's handling of the wildfire crisis. After being forced to flee her home, she demanded answers, asking, "Why was there no water in the hydrants, Governor?"

Fierce winds have fueled devastating wildfires across the Los Angeles area, claiming five lives and displacing over 179,000 residents, according to Sky News. Communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena have been ravaged by relentless flames.

Video from social media

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📹 Trump says Putin wants to meet, 'we're setting it up'

US President-elect Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to meet, and such a meeting is being prepared.

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Scholz's cabinet blocks $3 billion urgent aid package for Ukraine – reports

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Green Party) and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (Social Democratic Party, SPD) reportedly proposed a €3 billion ($3.09 billion) emergency aid package for Ukraine ahead of the February 23 parliamentary elections. However, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's office has blocked the plan, according to a German newspaper.

The report states that the foreign and defense ministries aim to request additional funds from the German parliament's budget committee, as the current budget lacks provisions for Kiev's urgent needs. This comes amid uncertainty over the incoming US administration's Ukraine policy.

Scholz's cabinet justifies its veto by citing the desire to avoid binding the post-election government to a pre-decided commitment. Additionally, the Chancellor may be wary of alienating SPD voters with another costly aid package.

In December, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier dissolved the Bundestag, triggering early elections scheduled for February 23.

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🤡 ‘Fire away. No pun intended’ – Biden jokes while addressing California wildfires

As wildfires devastate California, displacing thousands and destroying homes, President Biden has come under fire for making an offhand comment during his remarks.

The comment was seen by many as inappropriate given the severity of the crisis.

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🗳 Election of new Canadian Prime Minister slated for March 9 – statement

The election of the new leader of Canada's Liberal Party, who will serve as the country's new prime minister, will take place on March 9, the party announced on Friday.

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he would step down as head of government and leader of the ruling Liberal Party once his successor is chosen.

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China to send high-level official to Trump inauguration for first time – reports

Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to send a top-ranking official to the inauguration of Donald Trump, the Financial Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the situation.

This would mark an unprecedented move, as no Chinese official beyond the ambassador has ever attended such an event.

Potential attendees include Vice President Han Zheng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, or Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and a close ally of Xi. Discussions between Beijing and Trump's transition team are ongoing to determine the appropriate representative.

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❗️Fire-related deaths rise to 10

At least 10 people have died during LA wildfires, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner.

Officials warn that the actual death toll will remain unclear until it's safe for investigators to access neighborhoods. Tens of thousands of people have been under evacuation orders since the fires began.

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🗣US creates infrastructure for nuclear-capable jets in Greenland - Russian Ambassador

The United States is creating an airfield infrastructure in Greenland for planes capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Russian Ambassador to Denmark Vladimir Barbin told Sputnik.

"The island-based US Pituffik Space Base [ex-Thule Air Base] today is a part of the US' system for warning about a nuclear strike from the Arctic direction. It is undergoing comprehensive modernization, including radar systems worth billions of dollars. It is also building airfield infrastructure for F-35 fighter jets, which are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Such jets have already used the base's airfield for training," Barbin said.

The US military has been permanently present in Greenland since World War II, the ambassador added.

"Russia supports boosting stability in the Arctic. It is possible only on the foundation of creating a system of international security equal for all Arctic states," Barbin said.

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🟠 Scholz's cabinet blocks $3 billion urgent aid package for Ukraine – reports

🟠 Raging California wildfires claim 10 lives

🟠 VIDEO: Trump ‘setting up’ meeting with Putin

🟠 Turkiye's border build-up: Is Ankara planning to force Trump’s hand in Syria?

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🤝Afghanistan eyes LNG transit agreement with Russia

Kabul intends to sign an agreement with Russia on the transit of 50 million cubic meters of liquefied natural gas through Afghanistan, the head of the Russian Business Center in Afghanistan, Rustam Khabibullin, told Sputnik on Friday.

The deal is set to be finalized at the 2025 KazanForum, with gas tankers expected to handle the shipments. Trial runs have already been completed successfully.

This follows previous agreements for the annual transit of 50 million tons of Russian oil (2023) and 2 million tons of Russian wheat and flour (2024).

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