Trump To Meet Putin And Xi Jinping In Historic Three-Way Summit In China
Donald Trump will meet Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in China next week for unprecedented three-way talks on nuclear arms.
The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 19 November, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, a major technology and business centre in southern China. The White House confirmed the planned gathering on Friday, 13 November. It will mark the first joint meeting between the leaders of the United States, China and Russia, bringing together representatives of the world's three largest nuclear powers.
Nuclear non-proliferation and the reduction of global nuclear weapons stockpiles are expected to be among the principal subjects. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said Trump intended to discuss reducing nuclear weapons around the world, adding that the US president considered the spread of such weapons extremely dangerous. The administration has indicated that the meeting could provide an opportunity to begin discussions on a broader agreement involving all three countries.
The planned discussions come after the expiration of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, commonly known as New START, between Washington and Moscow in February 2026. The agreement previously placed limits on the strategic nuclear weapons maintained by the two countries. Its expiry removed an important framework for controlling their nuclear arsenals after more than a decade of operation.
Trump has previously called for a new and modernised nuclear arms agreement that would include China alongside the United States and Russia. However, Beijing has shown limited interest in joining such an arrangement, partly because its nuclear arsenal remains considerably smaller than those of the other two countries. Estimates cited by US officials place China's stockpile at more than 600 warheads, compared with more than 5,000 each for the United States and Russia.
US officials have played down expectations of an immediate breakthrough during the November meeting. A senior administration official said the three leaders were not expected to reach a formal agreement, describing the gathering instead as an initial opportunity for direct discussions. Washington hopes the first exchange could establish the foundations for further negotiations on nuclear disarmament and international security.
Iran is also expected to feature in the discussions, reflecting the continuing tensions surrounding the conflict and its wider international consequences. Trump plans to raise the issue with both Xi and Putin, according to US officials. Russia and China have maintained significant diplomatic and strategic relationships with Tehran, making their positions relevant to wider discussions about the conflict and regional stability.
The war in Ukraine, however, is not expected to form part of the planned trilateral discussions. US officials have indicated that Trump intends to avoid raising the issue during the joint meeting. The position comes despite Putin's continued efforts to discuss the conflict directly with the US president and Moscow's insistence on maintaining its territorial demands in negotiations over a possible settlement.
The planned gathering also comes at a complicated time for relations between Washington, Beijing and Moscow. Trump has sought to maintain closer diplomatic engagement with Xi following a trade truce between the United States and China. However, disagreements remain over economic competition, technology restrictions, Iran and wider international security. Relations with Russia are also affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine and Moscow's growing cooperation with Tehran.
China's decision to host the meeting could provide Xi with an opportunity to demonstrate Beijing's influence in international diplomacy. The gathering will take place during the wider APEC programme, which brings together 21 economies to discuss regional trade and economic cooperation. Shenzhen's development into a major technology and commercial centre also provides a prominent setting for an international meeting involving three influential world leaders.
For Putin, the meeting offers an opportunity to participate in direct discussions alongside the American and Chinese presidents. The Russian government has continued to seek high-level engagement with Washington despite disagreements over Ukraine and other international issues. The format also places Moscow at the centre of discussions involving global nuclear security, an area in which Russia retains a substantial strategic arsenal.
Billionaire businessman Elon Musk is also expected to accompany Trump during parts of his visit to China, according to a senior US official. However, he is not expected to participate in the three-way presidential meeting. Other American business representatives are also expected to attend activities connected with the wider APEC programme, although they will not form part of the official trilateral discussions.
The November 19 meeting will therefore be closely watched for signs of progress on nuclear arms control, international security and relations between the three countries. Although officials have warned against expecting an immediate agreement, the discussions could establish a starting point for future diplomatic engagement. Any longer-term progress will depend on whether Washington, Beijing and Moscow can identify shared interests despite their significant differences over international conflicts and strategic priorities.
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