Donald Trump has not ruled out attending a potential three-way summit in Beijing. We’d expect Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to show up at such a summit as well. As the September 3rd commemoration of the end of World War II approaches, speculation grows regarding the dynamics of international relations and the potential for diplomatic engagement among these powerful leaders.
So far, Moscow has been the most outspoken supporter of the idea of a summit. Beijing is anxious to see the meeting take place. The context of this event makes it a particularly historic time. It does provide Trump a fortuitous opportunity to begin a new diplomatic phase with both Putin and Xi.
Recent, dramatic policy developments indicate that the previously chill-seeming, but somewhat still warm Trump-Beijing relations are getting positively toasty. Analysts argue that Trump’s possible trip to China is the harbinger of a revival of his administration’s trademark transactional diplomacy. This would be a radical departure for him in his foreign policy approach. This potential thawing would have deeper implications for U.S.-China relations, which have seen heightened tensions in recent years.
Given Trump’s well-established interest in brokering “the deal” with Russia, that makes for a pretty spicy potential summit. A photo opportunity with Putin could serve dual purposes: it would not only project a united front on the global stage but cater to Trump’s domestic audience, who have shown mixed reactions to his engagement with Russia. This strategic maneuvering isn’t just cynical realpolitik — it’s all part of Trump’s play to position himself as the man who can build the world’s most important friendships.
As it stands, Trump has not officially RSVP’d for the summit. If he’s there for the September 3rd commemoration, that might provide a better opening for talks with both Putin and Xi. Trump already has the edge, given that analysts point out that he really shines in high stakes showdowns. The concept of a three-way summit certainly interests him.
The broader implications of a potential Trump visit to China go well beyond the prospect of personal diplomacy. Even having such a meeting would be a dramatic and beneficial embarrassment of the U.S. foreign policy establishment. Though it would have to wrestle with difficult geopolitical realities. The United States now needs to urgently reconsider our position as against both Russia and China. This need becomes increasingly acute with every week that global dynamics continue to rapidly change.