Iran and Saudi Arabia have long accused each other of destabilizing the region and seen one another as grave security threats.

Source: Iran, Saudi Arabia agree to reopen ties in China-brokered deal

KW: Iran and Saudi Arabia have been bitter enemies for centuries for reasons having to do with religion, culture, geographical claims, and disputes over global oil production. Yet, China has brokered a rapprochement between them, which are moving toward normal diplomatic relations. This comes on top of recent efforts by China to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.II

IMatters of war and peace and international diplomacy used to be the bread and butter of U.S. diplomacy. Now, because of U.S. incompetence, that field is being ceded to China. Along with diplomatic influence comes military and financial predominance.

Investors should see in this U.S. failure the ultimate failure of the U.S. dollar as the leading payment currency. That means inflation down the road as the dollar is abandoned and sinks in relation to gold.