ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - February 16, 2025

ZeroFox Physical Security Intelligence Daily Brief - February 16, 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

• Trump Holds Talks with Putin, Zelensky
• 1,300 Arrests in Bangladesh amid other Human Rights Violations
• U.S. President Trump Announces 25 Percent Tariffs on all Steel and Aluminium Imports

Trump Holds Talks with Putin, Zelensky

On February 12, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced he had conducted a lengthy call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to President Trump, the two leaders discussed many key issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine, the Middle East, energy, artificial intelligence, the U.S. dollar, and other subjects. Most notably, the two leaders have reportedly agreed to begin peace negotiations for the conflict in Ukraine "immediately." Trump subsequently called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to inform him of the conversation with Putin. Zelensky later posted on X, describing the call with Trump as a "meaningful conversation" and said the two leaders discussed their readiness to conduct negotiations.

1,300 Arrests in Bangladesh amid other Human Rights Violations

A recent UN report has found that Bangladesh’s former Government, security, and intelligence services, alongside violent elements associated with the Awami League party, systematically engaged in a range of serious human rights violations during last year’s student-led protests. The report also estimates that as many as 1,400 people may have been killed between July 1 and August 15, 2024, and thousands were injured—the vast majority of whom were shot by Bangladesh’s security forces. Of these, as many as 12-13 percent of those killed were children. On February 10, 2025, a crackdown by Bangladeshi authorities resulted in the arrests of over 1,300 people accused of fomenting unrest at the behest of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. This comes after a crowd of anti-Hasina protesters attempted to bulldoze buildings affiliated with her family on February 5 and after clashes between pro- and anti-Hasina factions in Gazipur on February 7. Bangladesh’s interim government, in power since Hasina resigned in August 2024, has been forced to rely increasingly on law enforcement activity to maintain order as Hasina’s Awami League party reasserts itself in national politics. Additional unrest could destabilize the country’s fragile economy, especially its textile manufacturing sector, which is vulnerable to transportation disruptions and political protest movements.

U.S. President Trump Announces 25 Percent Tariffs on all Steel and Aluminium Imports

U.S. President Trump has ordered a 25 percent import tax on steel and aluminum to reportedly strengthen domestic production and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. Trade partners, including Canada, have expressed concerns over potential economic impacts. Recently, the U.S. trade advisor stated Australia’s aluminum exports were “crushing” and “killing” America’s manufacturing industry, strongly signaling that there would be no exception to the 25 percent import duty Australia sought to escape. While former Prime Minister Scott Morrison had worked out a private deal in 2018 to limit aluminum exports in exchange for a tariff exemption, the current U.S. administration appears to believe those limits were not adhered to. In addition, there are likely no plans to grant exemptions, deviating from policy during the first Trump administration.