Trump says US is in denuclearisation talks with Russia and China

The United States is engaged in talks with Russia and China about nuclear disarmament, President Donald Trump has said. He made the claim during an interview with a US broadcaster, saying Washington was discussing a route to "denuclearise" with both countries. Trump also said he would "love to denuclearise if possible", describing the issue as a matter of concern for all three powers.

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Trump said China is racing to catch up in warhead numbers and could do so within five years. He said China's stockpile, which he put at about 620 warheads, remains far below those of the United States and Russia, each of which he said has more than 4,000. He added that China does not appear willing to disarm, but said the talks have continued.

The broadcaster reported that Trump spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping on the subject, although no further details were given. The remarks come at a sensitive moment for global arms control. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the United States and Russia has expired, removing one of the main formal limits on the two countries' nuclear arsenals.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear warheads, with the United States close behind, and the two together hold an estimated 86 percent of all nuclear weapons globally. China has the third-largest arsenal and has expanded it in the past year. The comments also highlight the scale of the strategic challenge facing Washington, Moscow and Beijing.

Any discussion of denuclearisation would involve the three largest nuclear powers and would have implications for deterrence, verification and wider security planning. The issue is especially significant because China's arsenal has been growing, while Russia's nuclear posture has drawn close attention during its war in Ukraine. That has increased concern in Europe and beyond about the future of arms control.

The broader backdrop is a period in which major nuclear agreements have weakened or disappeared. A month after the treaty expired, French President Emmanuel Macron announced the Forward Deterrence Initiative, reflecting European unease over Russia's nuclear signalling during the war in Ukraine. Former Australian foreign minister Gareth Evans has warned that the world has become complacent about the risks of nuclear war, saying major arms control agreements are "dead, dying or on life support" and that the taboo against threat or use is eroding.

What remains unclear is whether the reported discussions amount to formal negotiations, exploratory contacts or a political signal from Washington. No details were provided about the scope, timing or participants in any talks with Russia or China. It is also not clear whether the reported conversation with Xi Jinping produced any concrete follow-up.

#nucleardiplomacy #DonaldTrump #Russia #China #armscontrol #denuclearisation

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