Donald Trump thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday for remaining “neutral” during the US war with Iran, crediting both leaders with making the conflict easier to resolve.
“I just want to thank them because they made it a lot better,” Trump said at a press conference on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, his first public comments following the adoption of a ceasefire agreement.
Trump Singles out Xi for Praise
Trump offered particularly warm words for China’s leader, saying, “I want to thank China, President Xi. I was with him, and he stayed neutral, totally neutral, and I appreciate it. And I want to thank Vladimir Putin, he was very neutral. They could have made it much more difficult for us.”
The remarks stand in sharp contrast to his criticism of traditional US allies, from Japan to Europe, whom Trump accused of failing to support the military operation or assist with subsequent efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key maritime trade route that Iran had blocked.
Praise Despite Tensions with Beijing
Trump’s comments come despite a complex backdrop with China, as Beijing publicly condemned Washington’s strikes on Tehran as a violation of Iranian sovereignty. US intelligence officials also assessed that China supplied Tehran with goods carrying potential military applications, while independent Chinese oil refiners continued buying Iranian crude in defiance of US sanctions.
Nevertheless, Trump said Xi helped resolve the conflict by avoiding escalatory moves. “They could have sent in an oil ship with six destroyers alongside of it. They didn’t do that. President Xi helped me. He tried to help, and I think he probably helped get it solved,” Trump said.
In response, a spokesperson for China’s embassy in Washington said Beijing’s position had been “consistent” and that it had been “working tirelessly for the end of fighting and peace.” Meanwhile, Russia’s embassy did not immediately comment.
