Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Xi Jinping are set to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China, next week, marking a rare trilateral engagement among the heads of the world’s largest nuclear powers, the White House confirmed.
Trump’s spokeswoman, Olivia Wales, stated that the U.S. leader intends to discuss topics including the reduction of nuclear weapons, a subject Trump considers critically important due to proliferation risks. Discussions may also include Iran, although Ukraine is not expected to be on the agenda. Moscow and Beijing have not publicly commented on the planned trilateral meeting.
Meeting Details and Context
Trump will arrive late Wednesday for the two-day APEC summit, which involves 21 member states. Beyond the trilateral meeting, Trump is scheduled for bilateral talks with Xi Jinping on Thursday—making it their fourth encounter since 2025. Additionally, Trump will attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Philippines on Tuesday prior to the China visit.
Wales described the trip as an opportunity to “secure historic wins for the American people and advance America’s interests in the Indo-Pacific region.” However, a senior unnamed U.S. official indicated that no formal agreement is expected from the talks at this stage.
Nuclear Arms and Diplomatic Implications
A pivotal backdrop to this meeting is the expiration of the U.S.-Russia nuclear weapons control treaty earlier this year. The lapse ended key arms control cooperation that originated during the Cold War, raising concerns about unchecked proliferation. The United Nations has urged an urgent new framework, but Trump has emphasized a preference for a broader agreement that includes China, which has been expanding its nuclear arsenal.
Observers have noted that securing cooperative agreements with both Beijing and Moscow could present significant challenges and potentially take years.
Recent Engagements and Strategic Ties
Earlier this year, Xi Jinping hosted Putin and Trump separately in Beijing, and Trump welcomed Xi in Washington in September. Since 2022, Beijing has become a crucial trading partner for Moscow following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and resulting Western sanctions.
Concerns have grown among European nations regarding the Trump administration’s easing of sanctions on Russian energy buyers, including China, which deepen Moscow’s economic ties. Despite attempts to project warmer relations, major issues like trade, artificial intelligence competition, Taiwan, and Iran remain points of contention between the U.S. and China.
Chinese state media confirmed Xi’s bilateral talks on the summit’s sidelines but have not reported on the trilateral meeting. Russian officials indicated there are “signals confirming readiness” for such talks.
