With the backdrop of the war in the Middle East and the closure of the Hormuz Strait, the American president heads to Beijing for crucial contacts with Chi Jinping.
Donald Trump as he left the White House for China, sending a clear message to the leadership in Tehran.
The US president, shortly before meeting with the national security team, posed the dilemma of “agreement or decimation“, stressing that Washington is ready to “finish the job” if Iran does not make the necessary concessions.
The statement comes at a critical moment as the international community watches with bated breath the developments in the US-Israel war-Iran and the economic footprint of the blockade of the Hormuz Strait.
Trump’s trip to Beijing (13-15 May 2026) is considered “highly symbolic” and is expected to determine the geopolitical balance in Asia. The US leader appeared optimistic about his cooperation with Chi Jinping, calling him a “friend” and predicting a “very exciting” meeting.
In addition to migration and tariffs, the two leaders’ agenda is dominated by Washington’s pressure on China to act as a mediator or guarantor to end hostilities, given Beijing’s energy dependence on Iranian oil.
“He was relatively good at being honest with me. We have not had a problem, he has been a friend of mine. He’s going to be someone we get along with,” Trump said of the Chinese president, emphasizing personal chemistry as a foreign policy tool.
