ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - February 3, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - February 3, 2025

ZeroFox physical security experts collect, curate, and analyze information derived from open and proprietary sources for comprehensive context of the circumstances surrounding global events. Here is today’s daily roundup of major developments.

Brief Highlights

• President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China
• ZeroFox Intelligence February 2025 Geopolitical Brief
• Ahmed al-Sharaa Declared Interim President of Syria

President Donald J. Trump Imposes Tariffs on Imports from Canada, Mexico and China

President Donald Trump has announced additional tariffs in response to drug trafficking and illegal immigration, citing a national emergency under the IEEPA. A 25 percent tariff was placed on imports from Canada and Mexico, with a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods and Canadian energy. Trump has criticized China for failing to curb fentanyl precursors and accused Mexico of enabling drug cartels. There have also been reports of cartel-linked fentanyl production in Canada, raising further security concerns.

ZeroFox Intelligence February 2025 Geopolitical Brief

A ceasefire in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah looks likely to hold for the foreseeable future, but the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has a roughly even chance of collapsing. Ukraine is likely to have trouble obtaining economic and military support in the coming months as the United States pushes for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine and a number of key European allies hold elections. Meanwhile, recent developments in artificial intelligence by Chinese company DeepSeek likely increase the possibility of harsher-than-anticipated tariffs on China, while at the same time limiting the possibility of tariffs on other regions.

Ahmed al-Sharaa Declared Interim President of Syria

Syria’s transition government has declared de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa as the country’s interim president, officializing a role he had already been filling since taking power late last year. In his first official address to Syrians on January 30, President Sharaa pledged to form an inclusive government representing Syria’s diverse population. He also announced the dissolution of Syria’s former ruling Ba’ath Party as well as the former armed forces, in favor of a new military headed by the transitional government.