A much-anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese dictator Xi Jinping is about to be postponed due to the war in the Middle East.
In an interview with the British newspaper Financial TimesTrump signaled that he could reschedule or even cancel the bilateral meeting in Beijing, organized at the request of the Chinese leader himself, due to the problems he faces in the current conflict with Iran. A cancellation could further strain the troubled relationship between the countries.
In recent weeks, the war has escalated and provoked market turmoil after Iranian forces threatened vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic global energy trade route responsible for receiving about 20% of the world’s crude oil production, as well as liquefied natural gas and fertilizers.
Over the weekend, the White House leader called on affected countries to form an international coalition to challenge the Iranian blockade of maritime passage. So far, only Japan has signaled that it could contribute, other countries such as Germany, Italy and Greece have refused the proposal.
China is directly impacted by the blockade of its global oil imports, as the country alone receives 38% of all barrels transported via the Hormuz route.
Sources consulted by the British publication stated that there was great expectation that the meeting between the two leaders would remain intact, despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Trump reported that his Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, met with his Chinese counterpart, He Lifeng, in Paris, over the weekend to iron out details of the summit. New conversations are expected this Monday (16).
