US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Washington is holding talks with Moscow and Beijing aimed at reducing nuclear weapons, claiming the three countries with the largest nuclear stockpiles are in discussions about denuclearization. The Trump denuclearization talks were announced by Trump himself in an interview with Newsmax, though he gave no timetable and announced no agreement.
FAKTA
- What was said: Trump told Newsmax that “we’re actually talking to Russia about that, and we’re talking to China about that” regarding denuclearization.
- When: Thursday, October 15, 2026, in a Newsmax television interview.
- Participants claimed: The United States, Russia and China — described as the holders of the world’s largest nuclear stockpiles.
- Result so far: No timetable identified and no agreement announced; Trump only said the talks are ongoing.
- Treaty background: The New START arms-control treaty, signed in 2010 and extended once by five years in 2021, expired earlier this year.
- Stockpile picture: Russia holds the most stored nuclear warheads, followed by the United States and China, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute; the US leads on deployed warheads.
Trump Denuclearization Talks: What Was Announced
Speaking to Newsmax on Thursday, Trump said the United States is in direct discussions with both Moscow and Beijing about reducing nuclear arsenals. “The whole thing is a shame, because I’d love to denuclearize if possible,” he said, adding that Washington is in contact with Russia and China on the issue. Newsmax reported that Trump had also spoken with Chinese President Xi Jinping about denuclearization.
No Timetable, No Deal Yet
Trump did not identify any timetable for the discussions and announced no agreement with either country. He acknowledged the obstacles, saying China was “probably less inclined” to join because it is “substantially behind” the United States and Russia in warhead numbers, but added that the countries “talk about it a lot.” Back in May, Trump had already disclosed that he discussed denuclearization with Xi and said Russia should also be involved in efforts to reduce nuclear weapons.
After New START’s Expiry
The comments come months after the expiration of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, the New START agreement signed in 2010 between the United States and Russia. The treaty allowed only a single five-year extension, which was agreed in 2021 by then-President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Any new limits on arsenals would require a fresh executive decision to be set voluntarily.
A US submarine launches a missile during a test. Trump says the United States holds the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, followed by Russia, with China expected to catch up within five to six years.
The Stockpile Picture
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Russia holds the most stored nuclear warheads in the world, followed by the United States and then China, while the United States outpaces Russia on the number of deployed warheads. Trump claimed in the interview that the United States possesses the world’s largest arsenal overall, with Russia second and China set to catch up within five or six years. Neither Moscow nor Beijing has yet issued a public response to Trump’s claim that talks are underway, according to the reports.
What Happens Next
With no agreement or framework announced, the next test of the claimed talks will be whether any of the three capitals confirms a negotiating process or sets a date for discussions. Analysts have long been skeptical that China, with a far smaller arsenal, would accept limits alongside the two Cold War nuclear giants. For now, Trump’s statement stands as the clearest signal yet that his administration wants a new round of arms-control talks to replace the expired New START framework.
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