The leaders of the United States, China and Russia are set to hold an unprecedented trilateral meeting next week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China.
US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet on November 18 and 19, according to the White House. The meeting is expected to focus on major international issues, including nuclear arms control and the ongoing conflict involving Iran.
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According to Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, Trump sees the meeting as an opportunity to reach an understanding on nuclear weapons stockpiles.
The development comes after the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the nuclear arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow, expired in February. Trump previously rejected Russia’s proposal to extend the treaty for another year, instead calling for a new, improved and modernised agreement that would also include China.
However, expectations of a major breakthrough remain limited.
A senior Trump administration official told Reuters that Washington does not expect the three leaders to reach any formal agreement during the meeting. Instead, the gathering is being viewed primarily as an opportunity to begin discussions.
Iran War Also on the Agenda
A senior US official said Trump intends to discuss the Iran war with both Xi and Putin during the meeting.
However, the US president is reportedly not planning to raise Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The official also confirmed that billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk will accompany Trump during his visit to China, although he will not participate in the trilateral meeting.
Meanwhile, there is reportedly no possibility of a meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the Asia tour.
Comparisons With the Yalta Conference
The proposed meeting has drawn comparisons with the historic Yalta Conference of 1945, where the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union discussed the post-World War II international order.
However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov rejected the comparison.
He stressed that any understandings reached in Shenzhen would not be imposed on other countries. Nevertheless, he described the upcoming meeting as extremely important.
A Meeting With Global Implications
The trilateral gathering comes at a time of growing international tensions over nuclear weapons, regional conflicts and relations among major global powers.
Although no immediate agreement is expected, discussions among Trump, Xi and Putin could provide an important opportunity to address some of the world’s most pressing geopolitical challenges.
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