Trump Pressures China to Help Secure Hormuz and Threatens to Postpone Summit with Xi

SadaNews - U.S. President Donald Trump hinted that he may postpone the summit he plans to hold with Chinese President Xi Jinping if Beijing does not assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Financial Times citing an interview with the U.S. President.

Trump told the newspaper: "It is only fair that those who benefit from the strait help ensure that nothing bad happens there," emphasizing China's reliance on oil coming from the Middle East. He added that waiting until his scheduled trip to Beijing for the summit at the end of the month would be too late.

U.S. Pressure Before Trump-Xi Summit

Trump's warning comes at a time when senior trade negotiators from China and the United States are meeting in Paris to lay the groundwork for the summit between Trump and Xi.

Trump administration officials have stated that Washington is consulting with allies, including the United Kingdom, South Korea, and Japan, to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which is a critical waterway for transporting energy products as well as for international trade.

The U.S. President also issued a warning to European allies, telling the newspaper that NATO faces a "very bleak" future if its member countries fail to assist regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump told the newspaper: "Now we will see if they will help us. Because I have said for a long time that we will be there for them, but they will not be there for us. And I’m not sure they will be there."