Trump Pushes for US-Russia-China Arms Control Amid Global Tensions

US President Donald Trump has formally called for trilateral arms control negotiations involving the United States, Russia, and China. This significant move came on September 25, 2026, directly following Chinese President Xi Jinping three-day state visit to Washington, where leaders discussed a range of pressing 'global concerns' including Russia, North Korea, and Iran. Trump's advocacy for these three-way talks gains urgency after the New START nuclear arms control treaty, a key agreement between Washington and Moscow, expired in February 2026 without renewal, leaving the world's two largest nuclear powers without formal limits on their deployed strategic arsenals. Historically, China has been reluctant to join such discussions, arguing its nuclear arsenal is far smaller than those of the US and Russia, a position it reiterated following New START's expiration. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stressed that comprehensive arms control in the 21st century is impossible without China at the table. While the White House confirmed Trump's proposal, it did not state whether Beijing or Moscow had agreed to participate, nor did it detail a timeline or specific weapons categories for potential talks. The outcome of these proposed negotiations will be closely watched, as the US and China also recently agreed to establish a Super Intelligence (SI) Dialogue and address trade issues, indicating a complex and evolving relationship beyond just military matters.