Trump, Xi, and Putin to hold trilateral meeting in Shenzhen

President Donald Trump will hold a trilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Shenzhen on Thursday, November 20, 2026. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the 33rd APEC summit. This engagement marks the first-ever trilateral meeting between these three leaders.

The discussions between the three leaders will prioritize the reduction of global nuclear arsenals. White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said that Donald Trump intends to discuss global nuclear weapons reduction as proliferation is dangerous. While the summit will address nuclear disarmament and the war involving Iran, officials stated that the meeting will not include discussions regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The meeting follows the February 2026 expiration of the last standing bilateral nuclear pact between the United States and Russia. This diplomatic development occurs as international monitoring agencies continue to track global nuclear capabilities. The Pentagon estimates the Chinese nuclear stockpile at over 600 warheads. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia maintains the largest nuclear warhead stockpile, followed by the United States and China.

The schedule for the upcoming diplomatic mission includes a bilateral meeting and a working lunch between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping before the trilateral engagement begins. Donald Trump is scheduled to depart for a four-day trip to Asia on Monday, November 16, 2026. This trip includes a stop in the Philippines.

Nuclear disarmament and regional conflict

The primary focus of the trilateral discussions involves the reduction of global nuclear arsenals. This focus comes after China previously rejected United States attempts to include the country in trilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations. Chinese officials argued that the United States and Russia should negotiate directly. Despite these previous positions, the upcoming meeting in Shenzhen represents a significant shift in diplomatic engagement.

In addition to nuclear disarmament, the leaders are expected to discuss the war involving Iran. An unnamed United States official said that the meeting will serve as an entry point and a first conversation, and no immediate agreement is expected from these discussions. The complexity of these issues reflects the high stakes of the 33rd APEC summit.

Diplomatic context and historical comparisons

The upcoming trilateral meeting has drawn comparisons to the 1945 Yalta Conference regarding the redistribution of spheres of influence. The meeting in Shenzhen represents a critical moment for international security and nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The discussions aim to address the growing concerns regarding the scale of global nuclear stockpiles.

While some reports, such as those from CNN Indonesia, suggested the meeting might occur on Thursday, November 19, other reports indicate the meeting will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2026. The meeting remains a central component of the 33rd APEC summit held in Shenzhen.

Glossary

• Shenzhen — Shenzhen is a city in China. It is the location where the Conference on International Exchange of Professionals (CIEP) is held.
• APEC summit — An APEC summit is an event that involves a selection process for a host city. It includes a preparation committee composed of government ministries and economic organizations.
• nuclear arsenals — Nuclear arsenals refer to global collections of nuclear weapons. Discussions between world leaders may prioritize the reduction of these arsenals.
• nuclear disarmament — Nuclear disarmament involves the reduction of nuclear weapons. It is a subject addressed during international summits.
• Pentagon — The Pentagon is a building that has been the subject of claims regarding missile strikes. It is also an entity that provides estimates for nuclear stockpiles.