Donald Trump urged other countries to step in to secure the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that the United States alone would not protect the vital waterway. He said he was in talks with about seven countries to help reopen the route, citing China and other countries' dependence on the region's oil. The US president warned that an upcoming summit with Xi Jinping would be postponed if Beijing did not cooperate, and described the future of NATO as "very bad."

Donald Trump has announced that negotiations with Cuba are underway, but no serious action will be taken regarding the country until the war with Iran is concluded. Simultaneously, with the intensification of U.S. sanctions and the cutoff of fuel supplies to Cuba, sporadic protests have escalated on the island. Cuba has confirmed it is in talks with the U.S. regarding "potential solutions" to bilateral disputes, while simultaneously bolstering its defensive capabilities.

Donald Trump postponed his meeting with Xi Jinping by about 1 to 2 months due to the US involvement in the Iran war. While the delay introduces some uncertainty in relations, it gives China more time to reassess its position amid Middle East tensions. Officials say the pause is unlikely to have a major impact on the overall economic relationship.

Gold prices have stabilized above 5,000 dollars per ounce amid geopolitical tensions and inflation concerns driven by rising energy costs. The precious metal has gained about 16 percent since the beginning of this year. Demand in China remains strong, with Chinese investors adding more than 17 billion yuan (equivalent to 2.5 billion dollars) to gold exchange traded funds since the Lunar New Year holiday.