Chas Freeman: Trump Goes to Beijing After Historic Defeat in Iran

Glenn Diesen

 

Trump Goes to Beijing. Neocon Push for Iran Ground Invasion

The Duran

Macron interrupted in Kenya: “Like a colonizer”

TT

Published 11.38

 

French President Emmanuel Macron during a youth-led panel debate at the University of Nairobi on Monday. Photo: Brian Inganga/AP/TT

French President Emmanuel Macron stormed the stage, grabbed the microphone and demanded silence from the audience.

The move at a conference in Kenya is met with criticism.

The idea of ​​the Africa Forward Summit was to underline France’s shift from former colonial power to equal partner. But it fell flat when Macron interrupted a panel discussion by proclaiming that he would “establish order”.

– Excuse me, everyone! Hello! he shouted and criticized the noise level.

– If you want to stay in here, you listen to the people (on stage), he said.

Now critical voices are being raised.

“As soon as he sets foot on the African continent, he cannot help but behave like a colonizer,” writes Danièle Obono of the left-wing party Indomitable France on X.

“He behaved like a teacher scolding children,” says Thierno Mbaye, a history student from Senegal, to the AP.

Cost of Trump's "Golden Dome" is skyrocketing

TT

Published 2026-05-12 21.07

 

President Donald Trump unveiled the air defense system at the White House on May 20 last year. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP/TT

The estimated cost of the US's future missile defense system - which President Donald Trump calls "Golden Dome" - is skyrocketing.

The latest calculations from the Congressional Budget Office give a bill of 1,200 billion dollars to build and operate the system for 20 years. That corresponds to just over 11,100 billion (11,100,000,000,000) kronor.

When Trump unveiled the project a year ago, there was talk of a cost of a comparatively modest 175 billion dollars.

The system is inspired by Israel’s “Iron Dome,” which protects against rockets, missiles, and drones. The U.S. defense is primarily intended for long-range threats—ballistic missiles from countries like North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia. It will consist of both ground-based and space-based weapons systems.

Trump hopes to have it in service by the end of his term, January 2029.

British drones and ships to the Strait of Hormuz

TT

Published 2026-05-12 19.54

 

The picture shows the destroyer HMS Defender, which is of the same class as HMS Dragon, which is being sent to the Strait of Hormuz. Archive photo. Photo: AP/TT

The UK will send drones, minesweepers, fighter jets and warships for a future operation to secure trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

There is also interest in such an operation within the EU.

The announcement from the British Ministry of Defence comes after Tuesday evening's meeting between defence ministers from around 40 countries on what can be done to secure shipping through the strait.

A press release states that other countries also made concrete promises about what they intend to contribute to the multinational, defensive operation that will be activated “when circumstances make it possible”. Who they are is not mentioned.

The British are sending, among other things, unmanned mine sweepers, boat drones and Typhoon fighter jets to patrol the area. The destroyer HMS Dragon, which is already on its way to the region, will also be part of the operation.

The strait was also on the agenda earlier on Tuesday, when EU defense ministers met.

According to the Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, the door was left ajar to expand the operation in the Red Sea – which has been ongoing since 2024 – which goes by the name Aspides – to include the Strait of Hormuz, when the war is over.

Trump heads to China: Focus on trade – not Iran

TT

Published 2026-05-12 21.31

 

President Donald Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House ahead of his trip to China. Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP/TT

Trade is in focus when Donald Trump visits Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Iran is a less important item on the agenda, according to the US president.

– We have a lot of topics to discuss. I wouldn't say Iran is one of them, to be honest, because we have Iran largely under control, Trump said as he left the White House to fly to China.

At the same time, Trump renewed his threat to order new military attacks on Iran.

– We will either get a deal or they will be decimated. One way or another, we will win.

The visit is scheduled for Wednesday-Friday. Asked about media reports that China is providing Iran with weapons and buying sanctioned oil, Trump said President Xi has always “been a friend.”

– He is someone we have come to terms with.

Middle East Crisis Peace Talks

Iran: US must accept – or fail

The US must accept Iran's latest offer in the negotiations to end the war – or be forced to admit that it has failed. This is what Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on Tuesday in a post on X.

Iran has demanded, among other things, that the war be ended on all fronts and that the US blockade of Iranian ports be ended, AFP reports. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump called the Iranian counter-offer "completely unacceptable".

Sources: Trump is considering new attacks on Iran

Donald Trump is frustrated with the situation in Iran and is considering resuming the fighting, sources close to the president told CNN.

According to the TV channel, Trump's closest advisers are divided into two camps: one advocates letting diplomacy take its course, the other to increase pressure on Iran through new attacks.

However, Donald Trump is unlikely to make any major decisions before he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday, the sources say.
Talks between Iran and the US — that's the point

The latest peace talks between the US and Iran in Pakistan broke down in mid-April, reportedly mainly due to disagreements over Iran's nuclear program and the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran and the US have since exchanged new proposals via mediators. The two parties are described as being far apart.
Iran recently announced that it may consider moving some of its enriched uranium to a third country.
Donald Trump has also publicly rejected that proposal, calling the ceasefire "incredibly weak".
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed and oil prices have continued to rise.