US President Donald Trump has announced plans to restart nuclear arms control negotiations with Russia and China, aiming for a trilateral agreement to halve defense budgets. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump criticized the massive spending on nuclear weapons, stating, 'There's no reason for us to be building brand-new nuclear weapons. We already have so many.' He emphasized that the funds could be better used elsewhere.
Trump expressed hope that all three nations could commit to reducing military expenditures by half. 'We're all spending a lot of money that we could be spending on other things that are actually, hopefully, much more productive,' he said. The president noted that while the US and Russia hold vast Cold War-era stockpiles, China is expected to catch up in nuclear capability within five to six years.
Trump indicated that nuclear talks would begin after resolving conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. 'One of the first meetings I want to have is with President Xi of China, President Putin of Russia. And I want to say: Let's cut our military budget in half,' he stated. He also warned that use of nuclear weapons would lead to 'probably oblivion.'
During his first term, Trump failed to include China in nuclear reduction talks during the New Start treaty extension negotiations. Russia suspended participation in that treaty under the Biden administration. Trump also reiterated his desire to readmit Russia to the G7, from which it was expelled in 2014 after the annexation of Crimea.
Trump revealed on Wednesday that he expects to meet Putin separately for Ukraine peace talks, describing their recent conversation as 'highly productive.' This marks the first confirmed contact between the leaders since Trump's return to the White House.
