Editorial and cartoon by Paco Baca.
Beijing rolled out the red carpet for Trump and Xi, promising a “fantastic future” between the two powers. Fantastic indeed—for Trump’s new product line. He’s found the ultimate supplier: factory‑priced caps, wholesale T‑shirts, and campaign props ready to ship.
Sovereignty now trades like merchandise. Washington dreams of selling oil to China in exchange for boxes of caps to fuel the rallies. The barter of the century: crude for campaign swag.
But the marketplace doesn’t stop at China. Russia steps in as a strategic partner, adding its energy and military clout, while North Korea’s leader perks up his ears, listening intently as if the summit were a rehearsal for his next missile parade.
Iran lurks in the background, waiting for its chance to join the club—if it can deliver profit margins, though what gets resold may not be oil, but the dignity of a nation.
This “fantastic future” isn’t diplomacy, it’s a catalog straight out of Alibaba, stamped Trump™. China manufactures, Russia backs, North Korea listens, and America resells. In that marketplace, sovereignty is just another bulk item, shipped with free delivery and a grin.
