The global oil market is bracing for further disruptions as tensions between the United States and China escalate. According to Indian media reports, US President Donald Trump is allegedly using crucial sea routes as leverage to exert pressure on China. The development comes in the backdrop of the US’s growing influence over the world’s largest oil reserves following the arrest of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in 2026. After the US launched attacks on Iran in February, the Strait of Hormuz was closed, disrupting the global oil supply chain, which accounts for 20-25% of the world’s oil exports.
US President Donald Trump hinted at a possible Iran-US deal in Pakistan, while in March, the US sealed a deal with Indonesia to increase its surveillance over the Malacca Strait, a crucial oil trade route accounting for almost 80% of China’s oil imports. According to a report by Indian news channel NDTV, experts believe that the US strategy is aimed at limiting China’s oil supply, but China has responded by increasing its reliance on alternative routes, land pipelines, and diplomatic pressure.
Chinese experts claim that China has a strategic oil reserve of over 1.3 billion barrels, while the country is also using “shadow fleets” to maintain oil supply lines. US President Trump has reportedly written to Chinese President Xi Jinping, warning him that information suggests China is providing arms to Iran, a claim China has denied. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a surge in oil prices in Asia and Europe, which have now exceeded $110 per barrel, prompting emergency measures in several countries.
In an exclusive report, senior journalist and analyst Chandrashekar Srinivasan said that the US’s control over the Malacca Strait would not be a decisive factor, as China has already established alternative routes through land pipelines, diplomatic pressure, and regional influence. The situation has become a global chess match, with the real question being which side will back down first.
US President Donald Trump has called for a ceasefire in Lebanon, where multiple towns and villages have been devastated by Israeli airstrikes. The British media reports that at least 1,400 buildings have been destroyed since March 2. US President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan’s leadership for its efforts to reduce tensions in the region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has advised the US to engage in dialogue with governments it criticizes.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that Iran does not seek regional dominance but wants to protect its sovereignty. The Iranian President met with Pakistani Ambassador to Iran, who presented a letter to the President. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov advised the US to engage in dialogue with governments it criticizes.
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper has said that the US knows Iran is transferring military assets. A news agency quoted Fatih Berat, a Turkish defense analyst, as saying that Europe has only six weeks of jet fuel left, and if Iran stops oil shipments due to the conflict, flights in Europe may be grounded soon.
