Trump to meet Xi, Putin in historic three-way talks in China on November 19

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 15, 2026

Photo courtesy: The Sunday Guardian

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in China on November 19 for unprecedented three-way talks focused on nuclear arms reduction and international security.

The meeting will take place in Shenzhen on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, bringing together the leaders of three of the world’s major nuclear powers for their first joint meeting of this kind.

The White House confirmed the planned meeting on November 13, while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov separately confirmed the arrangements the following day.

The talks will form the final part of Trump’s Asia trip, which includes a visit to the Philippines for meetings with Southeast Asian leaders before he travels to China.

Nuclear weapons reduction tops agenda

Reducing nuclear weapons will be a central issue during the meeting, as Washington seeks to explore a broader arms control arrangement involving both Russia and China.

White House Assistant Press Secretary Olivia Wales said Trump intends to discuss the dangers posed by nuclear weapons proliferation and the possibility of reducing global nuclear arsenals.

The discussions come after the expiration of the New START treaty in February 2026, which had imposed limits on the strategic nuclear weapons deployed by the United States and Russia.

The treaty’s expiration left Washington and Moscow without a legally binding agreement limiting their deployed strategic nuclear arsenals.

China, meanwhile, has continued expanding its nuclear capabilities but has resisted participating in arms control negotiations on the same terms as the United States and Russia.

A senior US administration official said the upcoming meeting would serve as an initial discussion rather than a negotiation expected to produce an immediate agreement.

Iran on agenda, Ukraine excluded

Trump is also expected to raise the ongoing war in Iran during the meeting, although Washington has indicated that Russia’s war in Ukraine will not be part of the trilateral discussions.

US officials said Ukraine would remain a matter for separate diplomatic negotiations involving Washington and Moscow, rather than the three-way meeting with China.

Putin had previously expressed interest in discussing the Ukraine conflict during possible talks with Trump and Xi, but American officials have said the issue is not on the scheduled agenda.

No separate bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin is currently planned during the China visit.

Trump to hold separate talks with Xi

Before the three-way meeting, Trump will hold bilateral discussions and a working lunch with Xi on November 19.

The meeting is expected to focus on economic relations between Washington and Beijing, particularly the implementation of existing trade commitments.

US officials said the discussions would review progress under the two countries’ trade arrangements, including concerns over the supply of rare earth minerals.

Washington has expressed frustration over the pace and volume of rare earth exports from China, which are essential for industries ranging from electronics and electric vehicles to advanced defense equipment.

However, officials said major changes to US tariffs are not expected to be announced during the Trump-Xi meeting.

The two leaders will also meet amid continued tensions over technology restrictions and economic competition between the world’s two largest economies.

Philippines visit comes before China summit

Trump is expected to begin his Asia trip on November 16, traveling to Manila for diplomatic meetings connected to the ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.

He is scheduled to meet Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and participate in discussions involving the United States and Southeast Asian leaders.

His Philippine visit will also include meetings focused on regional security, economic cooperation and strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

Washington has indicated that discussions with Manila could include commercial agreements and strategic investments, alongside longstanding defense cooperation between the two allies.

Trump is also expected to participate in a meeting with leaders of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, comprising the United States, Japan, Australia and India.

The US president will then travel to Shenzhen on November 18 for APEC-related activities before holding his separate meeting with Xi and the trilateral discussions with Xi and Putin on November 19.