US President Donald Trump plans to discuss reducing nuclear weapons with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping during an expected meeting in Shenzhen next week. The White House said the three leaders are expected to meet on Thursday alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. According to US officials, Trump wants the discussion to focus on the dangers of nuclear weapons and the need to consider ways of reducing their spread. The meeting would bring together the leaders of the three countries with the world’s largest nuclear arsenals, creating a significant diplomatic moment amid tensions over international security.
However, the White House has warned that no agreement is expected from the first meeting. China has repeatedly resisted direct discussions with Washington about its nuclear programme, arguing that its arsenal is much smaller than those of Russia and the United States. The New START treaty between Washington and Moscow also expired this year, adding further pressure to the international arms-control debate. Trump is expected to raise the war involving Iran during the talks, but US officials do not expect him to discuss the war in Ukraine. The meeting could open the door to future discussions, although major differences between the three governments may make progress difficult.
