US, China, Russia Leaders to Hold First Trilateral Meeting at APEC Summit

The leaders of the United States, China, and Russia are set to make history next week with their first-ever trilateral meeting. According to reports, President Donald Trump, President Xi Jinping, and President Vladimir Putin will gather on November 19 in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the arrangement, stating that an agreement had been reached for the three leaders to meet on that date. The APEC summit itself is scheduled for November 18-19 and will bring together leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific economies, providing a platform for this unprecedented dialogue.

The talks are expected to focus on nuclear arms control and the situation surrounding Iran. President Trump has emphasized that discussions in this format are essential, particularly for addressing nuclear disarmament. This meeting will mark the first time the heads of the world's three largest nuclear powers sit at the same table.

Preparations for the trilateral summit have been underway for weeks. Trump indicated on November 8 that he anticipated meeting with Putin and Xi at the APEC summit, while China's Foreign Ministry confirmed on November 6 that discussions were ongoing. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov noted last month that Moscow, Beijing, and Washington were ready in principle to hold the talks, although a separate one-on-one meeting between Putin and Trump has not been agreed upon.

However, the plan has raised concerns among some European leaders. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz remarked that many EU leaders fear the trilateral talks could become a "second Anchorage," referring to the earlier summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska. Despite these concerns, the meeting represents a significant diplomatic effort to address global security issues.

The trilateral summit is a rare opportunity for direct dialogue among the three major powers, and its outcomes could have far-reaching implications for international relations and strategic stability. Observers will be watching closely as the leaders convene in Shenzhen.