politics
May 3, 2026
What Trump, Xi and Putin’s Beijing meetings mean for the world order
As Trump and Putin head for meetings with Xi, the strategic triangle may reveal the limits of any new big-power accommodation with Washington
TL;DR
- Upcoming meetings between the leaders of Russia, China, and the United States are significant not for forging a grand bargain, but for indicating the ongoing restructuring of the global system.
- The long-standing economic relationship between China and the US, known as "Chimerica," has collapsed, leading China to reassess its position and the possibility of stable agreements with Washington.
- The US, under Trump, is prioritizing short-term gains and building national capacity, a departure from previous strategies focused on long-term investments in the international system.
- The erosion of the liberal international order means long-term agreements are unlikely, pushing other major powers like Russia and China to consider cooperation mechanisms that bypass the U.S.
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