Presidents of US, Russia and China to Discuss Nuclear Arms Control in First-Ever Trilateral Meeting at APEC Summit

Addis Ababa, November 14, 2026 (FMC) – The presidents of the United States, Russia and China are expected to hold their first-ever trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Shenzhen, China, with nuclear arms control and international security expected to feature prominently on the agenda.

US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to participate in the unprecedented engagement, bringing together the leaders of three countries with major nuclear capabilities.

Nuclear weapons reduction is expected to be a central subject of the discussions, particularly prospects for a broader arms control framework involving all three countries, according to several reports familiar with the matter.

The meeting comes following the expiration of the New START treaty in February 2026, which had established limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals of the United States and Russia.

The proposed discussions also reflect the importance of maintaining dialogue among major powers on global security and nuclear stability.

While the United States has expressed interest in expanding future arms control arrangements to include China, the three countries have different positions and approaches to nuclear arms negotiations.

Iran is also expected to feature in the discussions, with President Trump indicating his intention to raise the issue with his Chinese and Russian counterparts. The situation in Ukraine, however, is not expected to form part of the trilateral agenda, according to US officials.

Although no immediate agreement is anticipated, the meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the three leaders to exchange views on nuclear arms control and other matters of shared international concern.