The President's Daily Brief
May 15th, 2025: Russian Terror Plot Foiled In Germany & Trump Lands A Deal In Qatar
Thu, 15 May 2025
In this episode of The President’s Daily Brief: German authorities foil a Russian-backed terror plot aimed at sabotaging Western supply chains with mid-air parcel explosions. The European Union slaps new sanctions on Moscow and threatens more if Putin rejects a proposed 30-day ceasefire. President Donald Trump secures a $200 billion jet deal with Qatar during his Middle East visit, bolstering U.S. defense and trade ties. And in today’s Back of the Brief—Mexico’s top security chief confirms that 17 relatives of cartel leaders were allowed into the U.S. under a deal struck between the Trump administration and a son of the former Sinaloa Cartel boss. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President’s Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief DeleteMe: Get 20% off your DeleteMe plan when you text PDB to 64000. Message and data rates apply Birch Gold: Text PDB to 989898 and get your free info kit on gold TriTails Premium Beef: Visit https://TryBeef.com/PDB for 2 free Flat Iron steaks with your first box over $250 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Chapter 1: What was the foiled Russian-backed terror plot in Germany?
It's Thursday, the 15th of May. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. We'll start things off today with a foiled terror plot in the heart of Europe. German authorities say they've disrupted a Russian-backed sabotage operation designed to cripple Western logistics by setting packages on fire mid-flight. Yeah.
Later in the show, the European Union just approved a new round of sanctions on Russia, warning that even tougher measures are coming if Putin won't agree to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. and its allies. Or, and this is just a thought, how about you start with the tougher measures? Plus, Trump gets another deal during his swing through the Middle East.
In the latest show of economic diplomacy, Qatar has signed a $200 billion agreement to buy 160 Boeing jets, which begs the question, do they have enough parking spaces for 160 jets? And in today's back of the brief, Mexico's top security official confirms that 17 family members of high profile cartel leaders recently crossed into the U.S.
as part of a deal struck between the Trump administration and the son of a former Sinaloa cartel boss. But first, today's PDB Spotlight. We begin today with a foiled terrorist plot in Europe, one that German officials say bears all the hallmarks of a Russian state-sponsored sabotage effort.
German police have arrested three Ukrainian nationals suspected of plotting to mail explosives from Germany in a coordinated campaign to disrupt Western logistics networks. According to prosecutors, the plan involved sending booby-trapped packages from inside Germany to addresses in Ukraine, where they were designed to detonate during transit.
The suspects were detained in recent days in both Germany and Switzerland. Authorities alleged they were recruited by individuals, quote, presumed to be working for Russian state institutions and were preparing attacks on cargo transport systems in Germany.
Prosecutors say at least one of the suspects had already conducted a test run in late March, sending packages outfitted with GPS trackers from the city of Cologne. Officials say the plot was disrupted in its early stages, but the implications are serious because, well, as you know, at least if you're a regular listener to the PDB, this is not an isolated incident.
Just last year, Europe was rocked by a string of parcel bombings. In July, three devices exploded, one in Birmingham in the UK, one in Leipzig in Germany, and another near Warsaw in Poland. Each package had been sent through the same courier network and disguised to look like ordinary consumer goods. Adult toys and massage pillows, to be more specific. Ah, ordinary consumer goods.
Hmm, concealing explosives inside an adult toy. So many possible jokes. And yet, let's move on. Inside, investigators found timers made from cheap Chinese electronics, cosmetic tubes filled with flammable nitromethane gel, and wiring intended to trigger fires mid-flight. Western security officials quickly pointed the finger at Moscow, describing the attacks as part of a broader sabotage campaign.
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Chapter 2: How has Russia targeted Western supply chains through sabotage?
Meanwhile, in the UK, MI5 and other agencies have reportedly been tracking a network of individuals tied to Russian intelligence who are believed to be behind a series of mysterious fires and break-ins at military-linked sites. The strategy appears to be simple but effective.
Sow chaos, raise insurance costs, erode confidence in Western infrastructure, and stretch the resources of security agencies. And the threat doesn't stop at Europe. US officials have quietly increased scrutiny of foreign packages arriving from Europe, especially after intelligence suggested the sabotage campaign could target transatlantic shipments.
As for this latest plot, authorities aren't yet sure if any additional packages made it into the mail stream. As a public service announcement, if you do receive any adult toys in the mail, be sure to give them the once-over. Investigations are ongoing, and prosecutors say more arrests could follow. Now, Russia, for its part, and here's a surprise, denies any involvement.
But the pattern is becoming harder to ignore. Moscow is leveraging deniable assets to wage a covert war, not on militaries, but on civilians and civilian supply chains. All right, coming up after the break, the EU hits Russia with fresh sanctions ahead of ceasefire talks, and President Trump lands a $200 billion jet deal with Qatar during his Middle East visit. I'll be right back.
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The European Union reached a preliminary agreement on what would be its 17th sanctions package against Russia, warning it will be formally enacted if the Kremlin continues to reject the White House's proposed 30-day ceasefire. The thinking being, I suppose, well, the first 16 sanctions packages didn't work, so maybe the 17th will be the charm.
As we've been tracking here on the PDB, the agreement, sealed Wednesday by EU ambassadors, is the culmination of a week-long pressure campaign, including a Monday deadline set by Germany for the Kremlin to respond to Washington's overture. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared, quote, this war has to end. We will keep the pressure high.
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Chapter 3: What new sanctions has the European Union imposed on Russia?
Trump and the emir inked a broader portfolio of high-dollar agreements covering defense procurement, energy infrastructure, and joint ventures in tech and logistics. According to the White House, the total value of signed and pending deals exceeds $1.2 trillion, including over $243 billion in finalized contracts.
Among the highlights is a $2 billion agreement for U.S.-built unmanned aerial systems, a $1 billion counter-drone package from Raytheon, and a $38 billion statement of intent for joint investment projects aimed at strengthening regional air and maritime defense. Much of those investments will bolster U.S. operations at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
That's the largest American military installation in the Middle East. Trump's visit to Qatar marked the second leg of his Gulf tour, following Tuesday's multibillion-dollar defense and energy agreements with Saudi Arabia. The president is expected to wrap up his trip today in Abu Dhabi, where talks with the UAE president will center again on investment for deepening ties with the U.S.
While commerce dominated the itinerary, Trump and the Qatari emir discussed escalating flashpoints in the region, chief among them, of course, Iran's nuclear program. Trump reiterated his commitment to his administration's maximum pressure sanctions strategy against the Iranian regime, stating, quote, I have a feeling it's going to work out.
The historic visit culminated in a state dinner at Lucille Palace, where Trump praised the Qatari hosts for their, quote, unbelievable splendor and warmth. The president called the trip a, quote, milestone in a new era of U.S.-Qatari relations. He called the series of deals a decisive win for American industry, diplomacy, and strategic positioning in the Gulf.
All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, over a dozen Mexicans cross the U.S. southern border into America, but this time with the blessing of the Trump administration. I'll have those details next. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, this July, you may have heard about this, but this July, there's going to be a global summit of BRICS nations. It's going to be held in Rio de Janeiro.
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