In a fresh twist to escalating global tensions, US President Donald Trump has hinted that he may delay his planned summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping unless Beijing helps ease the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported. Trump’s remarks, suggesting China should demonstrate greater expeditionary naval power to ensure maritime stability, mark an unusual linkage between Indo-Pacific strategy and Gulf security. However, diplomatic sources indicate that in the current atmosphere, an on-schedule meeting between the two leaders appears highly unlikely. Both Washington and Beijing remain preoccupied with regional pressures — the US with Iran and Middle Eastern instability, and China with economic concerns and military recalibration. The uncertainty underscores deepening strains in US-China engagement, with global markets and strategic watchers closely monitoring whether dialogue gives way to yet another phase of geopolitical brinkmanship.