Trump, Xi and Putin Set 3-Way APEC Meeting as Nuclear Talks Face Long Odds
Updated
Updated · WBAL TV Baltimore · Nov 14
Trump, Xi and Putin Set 3-Way APEC Meeting as Nuclear Talks Face Long Odds
3 articles · Updated · WBAL TV Baltimore · Nov 14
Summary
Thursday’s Shenzhen meeting would be the first joint talks among the U.S., Chinese and Russian leaders, with the White House saying no agreements are expected.
Trump plans to use the session to discuss the Iran war and launch talks on a three-way nuclear framework after New START expired in February, but he will avoid Ukraine, a senior U.S. official said.
China remains the hardest sell: Pentagon estimates put its arsenal at more than 600 warheads versus more than 5,000 each for the U.S. and Russia, giving Beijing little incentive to join caps.
The summit also carries political risk beyond arms control, potentially overshadowing APEC and fueling fears in Kyiv and Europe that the three powers could signal decisions affecting Ukraine.
What hidden strategic motives lie behind bringing Putin and Xi together for an initial nuclear-risk discussion rather than pursuing bilateral agreements?
With New START expired, can this unprecedented trilateral summit actually forge a new era of global arms control without alienating international allies?
How will China's rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal and push for second-strike capability reshape the traditional US-Russia deterrence dynamic?