In a recent interview, former US President Donald Trump revealed that during his time in the White House, the United States came close to brokering a denuclearization agreement with both Russia and China. Trump’s bold claim was made during a two-hour discussion with comedian Andrew Schulz, which was posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) on October 9. According to Trump, the deal would have initiated a groundbreaking step toward global denuclearization, later expanding to include other nuclear-armed nations.
“We were close to a deal for getting rid of nuclear weapons. It would be so good,” Trump remarked, underscoring the potential magnitude of the agreement. “I’m talking about Russia, ourselves, and China. We would then bring everyone else into it.”
Trump’s remarks paint a picture of a highly ambitious effort to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide, focusing initially on the three most heavily armed nuclear states-Russia, China, and the US. Although details on how such an agreement would have been structured remain vague, Trump’s description suggests that this deal could have transformed the global nuclear landscape. The idea of expanding such an agreement beyond the three powers is particularly significant, as it could involve nuclear-armed countries like India, Pakistan, and Israel, as well as rogue states like North Korea.
For Trump, nuclear weapons remain the “biggest threat” the world faces today, even surpassing concerns about climate change, which he dismissed during the interview. “It’s not global warming, where the oceans are rising 1/8 of an inch in the next 500 years,” Trump said, downplaying environmental concerns in comparison to the dangers posed by nuclear arsenals. His rhetoric aligns with longstanding concerns about the catastrophic consequences of nuclear warfare, particularly in the context of escalating geopolitical tensions.
Neither Russia nor China has commented on Trump’s claim regarding the potential denuclearization pact. However, considering the long history of arms control negotiations between the world’s nuclear powers, Trump’s statements have raised questions about how close such a deal might have come to fruition.
Trump’s revelations on nuclear disarmament were made in the context of a broader discussion about global security threats, including Iran’s nuclear program. During the interview, Trump criticized President Joe Biden for his administration’s handling of Iran and its alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, accusing Biden of being hesitant to take a hard stance against Tehran. “He doesn’t want to confront Iran,” Trump said, referencing Biden’s public calls for restraint by Israel in targeting Iranian nuclear and oil facilities.
The former president’s critique of Biden taps into the ongoing debate over how best to manage the potential threat posed by Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Trump famously withdrew the US from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral agreement between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, UK, Russia, China, and France), plus Germany. The JCPOA placed restrictions on Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump’s 2018 decision to pull out of the deal led to escalating tensions between the US and Iran, with both sides intensifying their rhetoric and military posturing in the years that followed.
Although Biden pledged to restore the JCPOA upon taking office, his efforts have thus far been unsuccessful. Diplomatic attempts to revive the agreement have stalled, leaving Iran free to continue its nuclear enrichment activities. Trump’s critique highlights this ongoing failure, positioning himself as the candidate more capable of addressing nuclear threats.
Trump’s term as president saw significant changes in the landscape of US-Russian arms control agreements. In 2019, the Trump administration withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, a Cold War-era agreement that prohibited the deployment of certain ground-launched missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers. The US accused Russia of violating the treaty, a claim Moscow denied. The collapse of the INF Treaty marked a pivotal moment in US-Russia relations, as it eliminated one of the key arms control frameworks that had helped to stabilize the nuclear balance in Europe.
With the demise of the INF Treaty, the New START Treaty became the last remaining arms control pact between the two superpowers. Initially signed in 2010, New START places limits on the number of deployed nuclear warheads and delivery systems each country can maintain. Trump had sought to expand the treaty to include China, but Beijing refused to join, citing its comparatively smaller nuclear arsenal. This deadlock raised concerns that New START might expire without renewal if Trump had won a second term.
Upon taking office, the Biden administration extended the New START Treaty in February 2021, preserving the agreement for another five years. However, in February 2023, Russia suspended its participation in the treaty, citing illegal US sanctions and Washington’s support for Ukrainian attacks on Russian strategic airbases. The future of New START remains uncertain, with the treaty set to expire in 2026 if no further action is taken.
Trump’s latest comments on denuclearization come as he campaigns for a return to the White House in 2024. Having secured the Republican nomination, Trump is set to face Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Joe Biden as the Democratic candidate after Biden withdrew from the race in July. The nuclear issue, alongside national security, is expected to be a central theme in Trump’s campaign.
Trump’s stance on nuclear weapons could resonate with voters concerned about global security and the growing tensions between the US, Russia, and China. His claim that a denuclearization deal was within reach during his presidency will likely appeal to those who view him as a leader capable of negotiating high-stakes international agreements. However, critics may point to his withdrawal from arms control agreements like the JCPOA and the INF Treaty as evidence of an inconsistent approach to nuclear diplomacy.
Trump’s assertion that the US nearly brokered a global denuclearization deal with Russia and China offers a glimpse into what could have been a historic achievement during his presidency. While the full details of the negotiations remain unclear, the claim underscores the enduring importance of nuclear disarmament as a critical issue in global security. As Trump campaigns for a second term, his handling of nuclear diplomacy-both past and prospective-will be closely scrutinized by voters and international observers alike.
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