Trump, Xi, and Putin to Hold First Trilateral Summit in Shenzhen

President Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping, and President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to hold a trilateral summit in Shenzhen, China, on Thursday, November 19, 2026. The meeting will take place at a convention center near Hong Kong, according to several Serbian media outlets. This summit will occur on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and is expected to be the first trilateral meeting between these three leaders.

Focus on Nuclear Disarmament and Global Conflicts

The primary focus of the discussions is expected to be an agreement on nuclear arms control. A U.S. official stated that the meeting is intended to serve as the beginning of a conversation on nuclear disarmament. This comes at a time of significant tension regarding global security, as the New START treaty, which capped the largest atomic arsenals, expired in February.

The meeting is expected to address several high-profile international issues. Potential discussion topics include the conflict in Ukraine, the conflict in Iran, and issues regarding North Korea. While some Serbian media outlets suggested that the conflict in Ukraine might be removed from the agenda or that President Donald Trump may steer away from the topic, other Serbian media outlets reported that it remains a possible topic for the discussions.

Diplomatic Context and Nuclear Arsenals

The upcoming summit follows several high-level meetings between the leaders. President Donald Trump met with President Xi Jinping at the White House in September 2026, and President Donald Trump previously met with President Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August 2025. Additionally, U.S. Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have met with President Vladimir Putin multiple times this year.

The meeting arrives as the world monitors the scale of global nuclear arsenals. The United States and Russia each hold an estimated 5,000 warheads. In comparison, the Pentagon estimates that China possesses approximately 600 warheads, which is significantly smaller than the arsenals held by the United States and Russia.

What to Expect from the Summit

President Donald Trump commented on the upcoming event, stating, "One of the meetings will be with President Putin and President Xi, which will be interesting." The outcome of the Shenzhen summit will likely depend on whether the three leaders can establish a framework for renewed nuclear arms control discussions following the expiration of previous pacts.

Glossary

• Hong Kong — Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It is a location where citizens may hold permanent residence.
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) — Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is an organization that includes economies from the New World, such as Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States. The term has become popular in commerce, finance, and politics since the late 1980s.
• New START treaty — The New START treaty is an agreement limiting the number of U.S. and Russian long-range nuclear warheads. It is the sole remaining agreement of its kind.