• U.S. President Donald Trump reignited discussions on reducing global nuclear stockpiles, proposing renewed talks with Russia and China. He emphasized the moral and financial necessity of denuclearization, citing the high costs and destructive potential of nuclear arsenals.
• Trump referenced past conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming both leaders were close to a denuclearization agreement before the 2020 U.S. election. However, geopolitical tensions and the expiration of the New START treaty in 2026 complicate current efforts.
• China’s rapidly expanding nuclear arsenal and its deepening ties with Russia pose significant hurdles to a trilateral agreement. Additionally, Russia’s suspension of the New START treaty and its aggressive nuclear posture amid the Ukraine war further strain prospects for cooperation.
• The invasion of Ukraine and shifting global dynamics have heightened mistrust between nuclear powers. While Russian officials express openness to dialogue, skepticism remains about the feasibility of a new arms control agreement in the current climate.
• Despite obstacles, Trump’s renewed push highlights the critical need for international cooperation on nuclear arms reduction. Success depends on overcoming geopolitical divides and prioritizing global security over national interests, with the New START treaty’s expiration adding urgency to the situation.

In a bid to reshape global security dynamics, U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited discussions about reducing nuclear weapon stockpiles, calling for renewed talks with Russia and China.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 23, Trump recounted past conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed optimism about the potential for a groundbreaking denuclearization agreement. The proposal, which Trump claims was supported by Putin during his first term, could mark a significant shift in international arms control efforts, particularly as tensions between nuclear powers remain high amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Trump’s remarks at Davos highlighted his belief that reducing nuclear arsenals is not only a moral imperative but also a financial necessity. He told the WEF attendees: “Tremendous amounts of money are being spent on nuclear, and the destructive capability is something that we don’t even want to talk about.”

Trump recalled discussions with Putin ahead of the 2020 U.S. election, during which both leaders reportedly expressed interest in limiting their nuclear stockpiles.

“I can tell you that President Putin wanted to do it, he and I wanted to do it,” Trump said. “We had a good conversation with China, they would have been involved, and that would have been an unbelievable thing for the planet.”

The proposal comes at a critical juncture in global arms control. The New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) pact, the last remaining nuclear arms agreement between the U.S. and Russia, is set to expire in 2026. Signed in 2010, the treaty limits both nations to 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and has been a cornerstone of nuclear stability.

However, Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2023, citing U.S. military support for Ukraine. Despite this, Moscow has stated it will continue to abide by the treaty’s limits. (Related: Russian, Chinese nuclear arsenals have been upgraded in race to dominance over outdated U.S. ICBMs.)

Talks with China could face hurdles

Trump’s vision for a trilateral agreement involving China faces significant hurdles. China, which has historically maintained a smaller nuclear arsenal compared to the U.S. and Russia, is rapidly expanding its capabilities. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, China currently possesses approximately 600 operational nuclear warheads and is on track to reach 1,000 by 2030. This buildup, coupled with Beijing’s deepening ties with Moscow, complicates efforts to bring China into a multilateral arms control framework.

Moreover, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically since Trump’s first term. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has strained relations between Moscow and Washington, while China’s support for Russia’s war effort has further complicated U.S.-China relations. Putin has repeatedly warned that Western military aid to Ukraine could trigger a proportional response, including the potential use of nuclear weapons. In 2023, Russia updated its nuclear doctrine to classify aggression by a non-nuclear state supported by a nuclear power as a “joint attack” on Russia, signaling a more aggressive posture.

The push for nuclear arms reduction is not new. During the Cold War, the U.S. and Soviet Union engaged in a series of arms control agreements, including the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which helped curb the nuclear arms race.

However, the inclusion of China in such efforts has proven elusive. Trump’s previous attempts to bring China into the New START framework during his first term were unsuccessful, and the Biden administration faced similar challenges.

Beijing has reiterated its commitment to peaceful development, with Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stating, “China’s development of nuclear weapons is a historic choice forced to be made.”

Despite these obstacles, Trump remains optimistic. “We want to see if we can denuclearize, and I think that’s very possible,” he said at Davos. His comments echo those made during a recent Fox News interview, where he claimed to have been “very close” to a deal with Putin before the 2020 election.

In the end, the success of any denuclearization effort will depend on the willingness of all parties to prioritize global security over national interests. As Trump himself noted, “That would have been an unbelievable thing for the planet.” The question now is whether the world’s nuclear powers can turn that vision into reality.

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Watch this news report about Russian President Vladimir Putin suspending Moscow’s participation in the New START pact.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Russia appears ready to strike the US with nuclear weapons.

Trump and Putin set stage for high-stakes meeting amid Ukraine war stalemate.

Nuclear-armed nations are expanding and modernizing their nuclear arsenals in anticipation of a potential global power conflict.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheHill.com

Newsweek.com

Brighteon.com