Morning Briefing: Dec. 31, 2025

ISTANBUL

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Wednesday, including the United Arab Emirates ending its military presence in Yemen after Saudi-led coalition strikes, Thailand releasing 18 Cambodian soldiers, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying he is holding talks with US President Donald Trump on the deployment of American troops in Ukraine.

TOP STORIES

• UAE announces end to its military presence in Yemen

The United Arab Emirates announced an end to its military presence in Yemen on Tuesday amid rising tensions in the country’s south.

“Given the recent developments and the potential implications for the safety and effectiveness of counterterrorism tasks, the Defense Ministry announces the termination of the remaining counterterrorism teams in Yemen of its own free will, in a manner that ensures the safety of its personnel, and in coordination with the concerned partners,” said a ministry statement.

Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Chair Rashad al-Alimi cancelled a joint defense pact with the UAE early Tuesday and gave a 24-hour deadline for UAE forces to withdraw. He also declared a state of emergency for a 90-day period, along with a 72-hour air and land ban on all ports and border crossings.

The move came shortly after the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen launched "limited" airstrikes targeting two ships linked to the UAE at the Mukalla port in Yemen.

• Thailand releases 18 Cambodian soldiers as ceasefire holds

Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers it had detained since July, officials said.

The move came after the two countries declared a ceasefire Saturday after weeks of border clashes that killed at least 99 people, including civilians.

Thailand “repatriated the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers to Cambodia,” said a statement from the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Separately, the Cambodian official news agency Agence Kampuchea Presse confirmed the return of the soldiers after 155 days in custody.

Under the ceasefire agreement, all 18 soldiers held since the border clashes in July — in which at least 48 people were killed — were to be returned to Cambodia if the ceasefire remained fully intact for the initial 72 hours.

• Zelenskyy says talks with Trump underway on possible deployment of US troops in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he is holding talks with US President Donald Trump on the possible deployment of American troops in Ukraine as part of security guarantees.

Speaking to journalists, Zelenskyy said any decision on the deployment of American forces would be made solely by the US leadership, noting that such troops would be under Washington’s authority.

He said discussions are ongoing with Trump as well as representatives of a broader coalition.

“This can be confirmed, to be honest, by the president of the United States of America. These are the troops of the United States, and that is why it is America that makes such decisions,” Zelenskyy was quoted by the Ukrinform news agency as saying. The issue is being discussed with US officials, he added.

​​​NEWS IN BRIEF

• A Saudi-led coalition said Tuesday that two ships in a row with the United Arab Emirates had entered Yemen’s Mukalla port without authorization and turned off their tracking systems.
• Eight European nations plus Japan, and Canada on Tuesday expressed "serious concerns" about the renewed deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
• Israel's decision to recognize Somaliland is illegitimate and unacceptable, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
• Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its support on Tuesday for Somalia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, following Israel’s recognition of the breakaway region of Somaliland.
• Yemen on Tuesday announced the cancellation of a joint defense agreement with the UAE and called for the withdrawal of all Emirati forces within 24 hours, following the UAE's arms shipment to the Southern Transitional Council forces in the south.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping said Wednesday that he is ready to “push for continuous new progress” in bilateral ties with Russia.
• More than 4,000 civilians have fled Sudan’s South and North Kordofan states over the past three days due to escalating insecurity, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday.
• A Palestinian girl was killed and two people were injured in fresh Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in a new violation of the ceasefire deal in place since Oct. 10, medical sources said.
• China launched two satellites into space Wednesday from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan, a report said.
• More than 177,000 Syrian refugees returned voluntarily from Jordan to Syria over the past year, the UN refugee agency UNHCR said Tuesday.
• The US Treasury Department on Tuesday rolled out new sanctions on 10 individuals and entities based in Venezuela and Iran, accusing them of involvement in Tehran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) program and weapons proliferation activities.
• Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that the US is ready for a possible deployment of its troops to Ukraine as part of postwar security guarantees.
• New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will be sworn in during a private ceremony just before midnight on Jan. 1.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

• Mexico formalizes tariffs on China, other Asian countries

Mexico formalized a new series of import tariffs Tuesday on countries with which it does not have a free trade agreement.

The measure, enacted by the Economy Ministry, imposes tariffs of up to 35% on imports from Asian countries such as China, India, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia and takes effect on Jan. 1.

The decree revises import tariffs on nearly 1,500 product lines covering a wide range of goods in several industries, including automotive, textiles, apparel, plastics, steel, household appliances, aluminum, toys, furniture, footwear, leather goods, paper and cardboard, motorcycles, and glass.

• China’s flag carrier to buy 60 Airbus planes worth $9.53B

China's flag carrier Air China said on Tuesday night that it and a subsidiary have signed an agreement with Airbus to acquire 60 A320neo aircraft in a deal worth around $9.53 billion.

The jets are expected for delivery between 2028 and 2032, Air China announced in a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange, according to Global Times.

This transaction requires approval from the company’s shareholders’ meeting and must also receive authorization and confirmation from the relevant government authorities.