By Editorial Dept - May 22, 2026, 6:30 AM CDT
Politics, Geopolitics & ConflictThe biggest (and only, really) takeaway from the Trump-Xi meeting is that, as we mentioned last week and the week prior, this is all about Taiwan. All eyes are now on the $14-billion Taiwan arms package that Trump suddenly appears willing to drag his feet on, raising immediate questions about how far Washington is prepared to bend. Trump’s refusal to immediately approve the already Congress-cleared package, combined with his repeated emphasis on having an “amazing” meeting with Xi, is creating growing uncertainty inside Taipei about whether Taiwan is going to be on the losing end of this chess game. Xi reportedly warned Trump directly that Taiwan remained the most dangerous issue in U.S.-China relations and could trigger “clashes and even conflicts” if mishandled.The UAE is accelerating construction of a second west-east oil pipeline to Fujairah as Abu Dhabi, free from OPEC, looks to expand exports and reduce dependence on Hormuz. The new pipeline is expected to double ADNOC’s bypass export capacity through Fujairah by next year, adding to the existing Habshan-Fujairah line that can already move roughly 1.8 million barrels per day outside Hormuz.The Trump administration has cranked up the pressure on Cuba after the Justice Department unsealed murder and conspiracy charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, tied to the 1996 shootdown of an aircraft that killed three Americans and one Cuban exile. The indictment…
