Photo: Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un walking together following a welcoming concert in Pyongyang during the Chinese leader’s state visit to North Korea. Credit: KCNA (Korean Central News Agency).

Trump, Xi, Kim and the Nuclear Question: Is a Broader Strategic Dialogue Emerging?

At the conclusion of President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing and his announcement on May 18 that the planned strike on Iran had been canceled, a series of diplomatic developments began to unfold, eventually leading to renewed progress in contacts between Washington and Tehran. At the same time, signs emerged that discussions were no longer focused solely on Iran, but were increasingly becoming part of a broader conversation among major powers about security, regional stability, and nuclear issues.

Trump’s remarks during that period, suggesting that Taiwan should exercise restraint and avoid creating “noise,” also led to speculation that discussions surrounding Iran might be connected to wider strategic considerations involving the South China Sea and the evolving relationship between Washington, Beijing, and their regional partners.

The visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Beijing immediately after Trump’s trip, followed by reports of discussions on a wide range of strategic issues, further strengthened impressions that multiple........

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