The United States, China and Russia are preparing for an unprecedented trilateral meeting next week, bringing together three of the world’s most powerful leaders at a time of growing geopolitical tensions. US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Shenzhen, China, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The White House confirmed the proposed meeting on Friday, November 13. The discussions are expected to focus primarily on nuclear weapons reduction and the ongoing conflict involving Iran. However, American officials have indicated that the meeting is unlikely to produce an immediate agreement.
The proposed gathering is significant because it would bring together the leaders of the world’s three largest nuclear powers for a joint discussion at a particularly sensitive moment in international relations.
Nuclear disarmament takes centre stage
One of the principal issues expected to dominate the meeting is nuclear arms control. President Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in negotiating a new agreement that would involve the United States, Russia and China.
The proposed discussions come months after the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), the last remaining major nuclear arms control agreement between Washington and Moscow, expired in February 2026.
The treaty, originally signed in 2010, placed limits on the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads and delivery systems maintained by the two countries. Its expiration removed the existing treaty-based restrictions between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Trump has called for a new and modernised agreement that includes China. However, Beijing has historically resisted joining nuclear arms negotiations with Washington and Moscow, arguing that its nuclear arsenal is considerably smaller than theirs.
According to estimates, China possesses more than 600 nuclear warheads, while the United States and Russia each have arsenals exceeding 5,000 warheads.
This difference in nuclear capabilities remains one of the major obstacles to establishing a three-country arms control framework.
Iran conflict also expected on the agenda
Apart from nuclear disarmament, the ongoing conflict involving Iran is another issue expected to feature in the discussions.
Washington intends to raise the Iran conflict during the trilateral meeting. The discussions could provide an opportunity for the three governments to exchange positions on regional security and the wider consequences of the conflict.
However, the White House has indicated that the Ukraine war will not form part of the trilateral meeting’s agenda.
The distinction is important because Russia’s war against Ukraine remains one of the biggest challenges to international security. Washington has maintained a separate diplomatic track with Moscow concerning the conflict.
Ukraine’s future raises diplomatic concerns
Although Ukraine is reportedly not on the official agenda, the proposed meeting has raised concerns in Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed concern about the possibility of discussions concerning Ukraine’s future taking place without Ukrainian representatives participating.
Russia, meanwhile, has continued to pursue negotiations over the conflict while maintaining its territorial demands.
The possibility of major powers discussing security arrangements affecting another country without its direct participation raises questions about national sovereignty and the role of smaller countries in international diplomacy.
The issue could become particularly sensitive if the proposed meeting influences future negotiations between Washington and Moscow.
Why this meeting matters
The proposed summit comes at a time when global diplomatic relationships are undergoing significant changes. The United States is attempting to manage its strategic competition with China while maintaining diplomatic engagement with Russia despite the continuing conflict in Ukraine.
For China, hosting the meeting offers an opportunity to demonstrate its growing diplomatic influence and position itself as an important participant in discussions concerning global security.
For Russia, direct engagement with the American president provides an opportunity to strengthen its diplomatic position amid continuing tensions with Western countries.
However, expectations of an immediate breakthrough remain limited. The proposed gathering is being viewed as the starting point for discussions rather than a meeting expected to produce a formal agreement.
The coming days will therefore be important in determining whether the three leaders can move beyond diplomatic engagement towards concrete discussions on nuclear security.
While the meeting may not immediately change the geopolitical landscape, its significance lies in bringing together three countries whose decisions have far-reaching consequences for international peace, security and stability.
