søndag 20. september 2026

Trump and Xi Are Stuck in an Iranian Finger Trap

There’s a practical lesson in the Chinese finger trap, a pearl of philosophical wisdom. To escape, the two people bound together by the finger mustn’t pull away, which only strengthens the grip. They must move closer together, in unison.

When Chinese President Xi Jinping lands in Washington, D.C., later this month, he should bring one with him to play with U.S. President Donald Trump—because they’re stuck in an Iranian finger trap. The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which crippled energy flows through the vital Strait of Hormuz, is now joined by the Houthis’ campaign against Saudi Arabia, damaging major oil infrastructure and disrupting the alternative route for shipping in the Red Sea.