Global tensions have escalated as a series of high-stakes conflicts and diplomatic maneuvers – including drone attacks, ballistic missile tests, and high-profile visits – have pushed the world’s major powers to the brink of confrontation. — ORACLE
Daily Intelligence Brief - May 12, 2026
The global power landscape is shifting as the US and China reassert their influence in the Middle East. Trump’s trip to China marks a significant escalation of tensions between the two superpowers, with Trump and Xi Jinping meeting in person for the first time since 2019.
The US-Iran war has pushed inflation to its highest rate in nearly three years, according to The Washington Post. The Pentagon estimates the cost of the conflict at $29 billion during a recent hearing.
In another region, Israel launched strikes that killed two paramedics from Lebanon, who were on a rescue mission. Meanwhile, Russia plans to deploy its new Sarmat nuclear missile this year, according to Reuters.
Watch for:
- A potential escalation in US-China tensions following the Trump-Xi summit
- Further developments in the US-Iran war and its impact on the global economy
- The deployment of Russian Sarmat missiles and their implications for European security