There Are More Ways Than One…

…to trump Trump (as well as to skin a cat – as the old saying goes).

I kind of missed this story, but better late than never.

“China and Iran flesh out strategic partnership” (you should get one free look at this behind paywall article – if you haven’t been there before)

This is basically an updating of an existing agreement which will give a minimum $400 billion (that’s four hundred billion dollars) injection to Iran’s petrochemical and transport industries. 

The much needed funds for sanction pressed Iran obviously come at a cost in advantages to China, but on terms that are acceptable to Iran.

They also come with:

“This will include up to 5,000 Chinese security personnel on the ground in Iran to protect Chinese projects, and there will be additional personnel and material available to protect the eventual transit of oil, gas and petchems supply from Iran to China, where necessary, including through the Persian Gulf.” 

A contingency that will dramatically alter (reduce) the possible opportunities for US initiated conflict with Iran as well as any thoughts on blockading Gulf trade. 

Expect to see Chinese naval vessels protecting their interests there, and a likely absence of US carrier groups.

Of course all such moves as this increase the risk and raise the danger level of an already uncertain future for humanity. But the world cannot afford to permit unilateral bullying by self-styled exceptionalists to go unanswered and unchallenged.