Summit Schedule and Diplomatic Objectives
US President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China. The APEC summit is set to take place in Shenzhen, China, from November 18-19.
Trump stated that he expects to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Vladimir Putin during the APEC summit. According to Trump, "denuclearisation" and ending the war in Iran would be on the agenda during these meetings.
Kurt Campbell, chair of the Asia Group, suggested that Trump’s broader objective may involve securing a photograph with Xi and Putin, noting that "the meeting is the message." CSIS president Victor Cha added that the Republican midterm defeat makes a high-profile meeting more likely, observing that Trump has personally staked time on North Korea policy.
Political Context and Domestic Constraints
The diplomatic tour occurs after Trump’s party suffered losses in the recent midterms, with Democrats seizing control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This shift places Trump in a two-year "lame duck" period for the remainder of his White House tenure.
Constitutionally banned from seeking a third term in the 2028 presidential race, Trump faces challenges to reassert control over foreign policy. Edgard Kagan, an expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told a news briefing that "After bad midterms, this is how presidents reset."
Asian Reactions and Regional Dynamics
China described the US midterms as an "internal affair" and stated it is "willing to continue working" with the United States after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress. Meanwhile, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky warned against a "Yalta 2.0," referring to Western leaders dividing Europe with the Soviet Union in 1945.
Congressional Pushback and Trade Authority
Joshua Kurlantzick, an expert at the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote that many Asian leaders are relieved in private, hoping Trump’s decision-making on Iran will become more predictable. He added that a Democratic-controlled Congress could take a tougher stance towards China and push back on Trump’s tariffs.
Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Congress to reassert its authority over US trade policy. However, the president enjoys broad authority over trade and holds veto power over congressional legislation, which he has vowed to use.