Trump, Xi, and Putin to Hold First Trilateral Meeting at APEC Summit

The trilateral meeting, which will take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Shenzhen, will focus on the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which lapsed in February (1). The treaty, signed in 2010, caps U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals. Russia currently possesses the largest number of warheads, followed by the U.S. and then China, which is rapidly expanding its own arsenal (1). Trump has previously rejected Russia’s proposal to extend the treaty after it expired, demanding instead a new agreement that includes Beijing (1). [1]

The leaders will also discuss the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. The conflict has led to a stalemate, with the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed and oil and gas prices remaining volatile (1). One-third of China’s crude oil supply transited the strait before the war, and the conflict has also impacted Chinese exports (1). Russia has benefited from rising energy prices and recent sanctions relief from Washington amid supply crunches, particularly of diesel (1). [1]

China and the U.S. continue to face trade tensions, with Trump imposing a 145 percent tax hike on China last year and Beijing retaliating with 125 percent levies on U.S. imports (1). The two countries have since reduced tariffs and struck several deals following Trump and Xi’s meetings in South Korea and Washington. However, the recent scandal at chip firm Nvidia has prompted the U.S. to allege that China was spying on CEO Jensen Huang, a claim Beijing denies (1). [1]

US President Donald Trump, China’s President Xi Jinping, and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin will hold their first trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China’s Shenzhen, the White House has confirmed (1). The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the APEC summit, which will occur from November 18-19 (1). Talks will focus on nuclear proliferation, the White House said. However, the meeting occurs amid significant global turbulence, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, the US-Israeli war on Iran, and ongoing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing (1). [1]

A top issue for Russia and the US is the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), which lapsed in February. The treaty was first signed in 2010 and caps US and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals (1). Russia currently possesses the largest number of warheads, followed by the US and then China, which is rapidly building up its own arsenal (1). Trump previously rejected Russia’s proposal to extend the treaty after it expired, demanding instead a 'new, improved and modernised' deal that includes Beijing (1). [1]

Officials also say the world leaders will discuss the US-Israeli war on Iran, which the US and Israel launched on February 28. While full-scale strikes have, for now, ceased, the conflict remains in a deadlock. After more than 100 days, the critical Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and oil and gas prices are still volatile as ships in the strait continue to face Iranian strikes and seamines (1). [1]

Sources

Al Jazeera (All)

Prepared with AI assistance from the cited sources.