⚔️ ‘Panama has no possibility to oppose the request’ – analyst

💬 “The Monroe doctrine is 150 years old. Trump is relaunching it in a clear global twist: Panama Canal back under US control, Canada within the US security interests zone, and Greenland (that de facto was American after being British) is the extension of the Northers US security zone,” Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, told Sputnik.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed territorial claims over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal. In his inaugural speech earlier today, Trump vowed to “take back” the Canal.

💬 “None of this requires the use of force. Denmark, for instance, is already signaling interest in a dialogue about the terms of a deal,” the analyst noted.

However, President José Raúl Mulino of the Republic of Panama firmly rejected Trump's territorial claims on the Canal, following Trump’s inaugural remarks.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Hamas confirmed that the second group of Israeli hostages will be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners on the scheduled date next Saturday, January 25.

The statement posted on the group's Telegram channel did not specify how many hostages will be released.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirms Marco Rubio as US Secretary of State

The nomination will now be sent to the full Senate for consideration.

During a confirmation hearing earlier this month, Rubio said that the United States' official position on the Ukraine conflict must be that it should be brought to an end.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

📑 All Trump’s executive orders will be executed – analyst

"Their degree of implementation will depend on opportunity calculus," said Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, in an interview with Sputnik. The expert commented on reports that US President Donald Trump plans to sign over 200 executive actions on his first day in office.

💬 "Trump will easily accuse the DEM should some orders fail to be implemented. Therefore, the orders should be seen as transactive tools," Raffone explained.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🗣 Trump views EU as part of US’s sphere of influence, which should accept its role or ‘face consequences’ – analyst

💬 “The message to the EU and the European countries is that they belong to the US sphere of influence and, therefore, they should play their cards accordingly or face consequences,” Paolo Raffone, a strategic analyst and director of the CIPI Foundation in Brussels, told Sputnik. Raffone commented on what signal Trump sends to European elites and their globalist values.

💬 “Basically, Trump ignores them, particularly the EU Commission and Ursula von der Leyen,” the analyst added.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Trump vows to pardon many Jan.6 convicts shortly after inaugural parade

💬 "And you know, tonight I'm going to be signing on the [January 6] hostages' pardons to get them out, and as soon as I leave, I'm going to the Oval Office, and we'll be signing pardons for a lot of people, a lot of people," Trump said at his inaugural parade at the Capital One Arena.

More than 1,570 defendants have been federally charged with crimes related to the January 6 attack, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Vice President Joe Biden's victory.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Trump appoints Brian Driscoll as acting FBI Director while Kash Patel awaits confirmation – reports

Brian Driscoll has been appointed as the acting director of the FBI by President Trump, Fox News reported.

Driscoll, who joined the FBI in 2007, previously led the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and served in the New York field office. His tenure as acting director will continue until Kashyap "Kash" Patel, nominated by Trump in November, is confirmed by the US Senate as the next FBI director.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

US Senate confirms Rubio as State Secretary in Trump's Administration

Rubio's appointment was confirmed with 99 votes in favor and zero votes against, according to the voting results.

Earlier in the day, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously to confirm Rubio's nomination.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Trump signs a package of executive orders at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

List of Executive Orders:

◻️ Rescission of Biden-era Executive Actions: Rescinds 78 Biden-era executive orders, presidential memoranda, and other executive actions.

◻️ Regulatory Freeze: Implements a freeze on new regulations until the administration gains full control of the government.

◻️ Federal Hiring Freeze: Imposes a hiring freeze on all federal employment, excluding the military and certain other categories, until full control of the government is established.

◻️ Return to In-Person Work for Federal Employees: Mandates that all federal workers return to full-time, in-person work immediately.

◻️ Addressing Cost of Living Crisis: Directs every department and agency in the federal government to address the cost of living crisis affecting Americans.

◻️ Withdrawal from Paris Climate Treaty: Officially withdraws the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement.

◻️ Restoration of Freedom of Speech: Orders the federal government to restore freedom of speech and prevent government censorship.

◻️ Ending Weaponization of Government: Directs the federal government to stop the weaponization of government against political adversaries of the previous administration.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

✍️ Trump pardons approximately 1,500 people convicted of participating in Jan. 6 attack

The order was the first one Trump signed upon arrival at the White House as the 47th President of the United States.

More than 1,570 defendants have been federally charged with crimes related to the January 6 attack, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent the certification of Vice President Joe Biden's victory.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️ Trump vows to work to end Ukraine conflict as soon as possible

💬 “NATO has to pay more money. NATO has to pay 5 percent. We are in the Ukraine war by $200 billion more than NATO. It's ridiculous because it affects them a lot more. We have an ocean in between. And we've spent $200 billion more on Ukraine than NATO has spent. And they've got to equalize,” the US President stated.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🥴 Trump believes Spain is a ‘BRICS nation’

💬 “So, you're saying they're going to put a 100 percent tariff on those countries like Spain?” a reporter asked the president

💬 “As a BRICS nation, yes,” US President Donald Trump replied.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Trump signs order on US' withdrawal from WHO

US President Donald Trump criticized the the World Health Organization (WHO)'s funding policies, namely the fact that the US is being demanded to pay more than China, whose population is bigger.

In May 2020, Trump, during his first presidential term, announced that the country would withdraw from the WHO following his criticism of the organization's coronavirus response.

His successor, Joe Biden, retracted Trump's decision on his first day in office.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

‘All of this is very disturbing for the deep state’ – former CIA analyst

💬 “A cross between being horrified and committing suicide. They are stunned,” retired CIA intelligence officer and State Department official Larry Johnson told Sputnik, commenting on the possible reaction of the US deep state to President Trump’s actions on his first day in office.

While discussing the executive orders signed on Trump’s first day in office as the 47th president of the US, Johnson noted that Trump has been fulfilling his campaign promises by issuing pardons for those convicted in the January 6th attack.

💬 “Trump also is going to pull the clearances of those 51 former intelligence officials, some of whom include John Brennan for some very senior people who currently still have access to classified material and then make money off of it, Trump's pulling the plug on that. He should,” the analyst emphasized.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt

How does Trump plan to shake up US Venezuela policy?

The fact that hawks like Secretary of State Marco Rubio and private military contractor Erik Prince are close to Trump means a tougher US stance on Venezuela is likely.

What actions can the new administration take?

🔹 Increased sanctions pressure

Restrictions on Venezuela’s key economic sectors, especially oil, may increase, with Rubio officially pushing for measures in April 2024 to limit the country’s main source of export income.

🔹 Support for opposition forces

Rubio and other hawks may push for US diplomatic recognition and financial aid to opposition groups. In 2019, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources, that Mr. Prince suggested using private contractors for covert ops, potentially facilitating a clandestine push for regime change.

🔹 Military intervention

…is not off the table. Back in 2019, Reuters reported citing anonymous sources that Prince was in favor of using mercs to remove Nicolas Maduro and install Juan Guaido. It also reported that Rubio was supportive of a US military involvement in the country.

🔹 Maduro’s stance

Despite pressure, Maduro remains defiant, presenting himself as the protector of Venezuela’s sovereignty.

💬 “The people of Venezuela defeated imperialism. And the outgoing US government now does not know how to take revenge... A president can't be appointed for Venezuela. They were unable to do this and will never be able to," Maduro said, addressing parliament earlier this month.

🔹 Venezuela’s friends

Venezuela has strengthened ties with Russia via a military and energy cooperation agreement signed in 2024, and with China – upgrading a bilateral strategic partnership in 2023.

📌Subscribe to @SputnikInt