Trump Plans Nuclear Talks with Xi and Putin During Upcoming Asia Trip
President Trump aims to discuss nuclear arms reduction with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin during his Asia visit, though no agreements are expected.
Washington, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : President Donald Trump is set to engage in discussions about nuclear arms reduction with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin during his upcoming trip to Asia. This meeting is scheduled to take place after Trump concludes his visit to China, although U.S. officials do not anticipate any agreements to emerge from the talks.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Wells provided details about the trip, emphasizing that the meeting will not focus on reaching a deal but rather serve as an initial discussion aimed at reducing nuclear arsenals.
A senior U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated, “We do not expect any kind of agreement.” The official noted that while Trump intends to discuss the issue of Iran during his talks with Xi and Putin, the situation in Ukraine is unlikely to be included in the agenda, as discussions regarding Ukraine are ongoing separately with Russia.
There is no scheduled bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin, although both leaders are expected to be present at various events together.
This dialogue on nuclear weapons is part of a broader agenda for Trump’s trip, which also includes regional diplomacy and efforts to implement existing trade agreements. Trump is set to depart Washington on Monday morning and arrive in Manila on Tuesday evening local time.
In the Philippines, Trump plans to meet with leaders of the Quad, sign a trade agreement with Thailand, and participate in the U.S.-ASEAN Special Summit. A state welcome ceremony, a bilateral meeting with the Philippine president, and a banquet are also on the agenda for Wednesday.
Following his time in the Philippines, Trump will travel to Shenzhen for a dinner with APEC leaders. Wells indicated that meetings with APEC leaders are scheduled for Thursday, including a bilateral meeting and a working lunch with Xi Jinping.
On the trade front, discussions with China will focus on enforcing existing agreements rather than announcing new tariff deals. The U.S. Trade Representative and Treasury Department officials met with their Chinese counterparts through the Board of Trade on the same day, discussing potential changes to tariffs and non-tariff barriers that could undermine any agreements.
An official mentioned that Washington remains dissatisfied with the pace and volume of supplies from China related to rare earth minerals and associated products. This concern led to the “Busan Agreement” being extended for only two months instead of six.
Trump may address this issue with Xi, but any changes to tariffs would require separate legal processes, including consideration of U.S. legal requirements and possibly a notice-and-comment period. No announcements related to the Board of Trade are expected during the leaders’ meetings.
U.S. officials also clarified that discussions regarding export controls related to national security are not taking place with China. Proposed measures include applying licensing requirements on other countries to prevent alleged chip smuggling and reviewing restrictions on remote access.
These measures are still under consideration and have not been officially announced as policy changes.
An official noted that Elon Musk may accompany Trump during parts of the trip but will not participate in the bilateral meeting with Xi or the trilateral talks with Putin. Only officials will attend those discussions.
The White House stated that the meeting between Trump and Xi in September helped advance work related to bilateral trade and investment boards.
APEC serves as a platform for economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. Wells remarked that the U.S. administration views these meetings as an opportunity to expand markets for American exports and promote priorities related to trade, energy, and development.
