Trump’s visit to China could reshape the global order

When King Charles III visited the United States recently, there was all the pageantry and trappings befitting a state visit. The king was charming and funny in return.

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It was also completely irrelevant.

The trip was an attempt by the United Kingdom to reclaim a seat at the grown-up table when decisions are being made about war, global trade, or anything else that commands the attention of global superpowers.

But the truth is, in 2026, there are only two global superpowers that matter: the United States and China. It has been this way for years, but just recently, other nations have finally begun saying it out loud.

This dynamic explains why foreign policy analysts have quipped that the G20 or G7 summits involving multiple nations have effectively dwindled into what will happen this week: a G2 summit.

It’s part of the reason Trump’s visit to China this week will be the most important summit of his two terms as president and possibly one of the most consequential meetings for the world in generations.

Yes, that is a bold statement. It also happens to be true given the timing and the stakes.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump are both at moments of supreme power in their respective countries. Xi has no number two, answers to no one, and secured the ability to rule indefinitely. Trump has a full grip on the Republican Party, which in turn has control of all three branches of government in Washington.

If Trump and Xi meet again, it will almost certainly be under different circumstances. Most importantly, Trump will likely be in lame-duck mode, unable to ensure that any promises he makes will have lasting staying power. He could even be dealing with a Democratic Congress determined to check his agenda.

While there is no formal agenda for the talks, there is an endless list of issues the world is waiting for them to discuss. And the issues are as big as they get.

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There is the race between the two nations on artificial intelligence. There is the fact that the United States recently took out leaders of two nations allied with China: Venezuela and Iran. There are trade disputes to resolve. There are energy markets, the future of the global currency (and cryptocurrency) system. The United States wants to ensure continued access to rare earth materials, while China wants access to high-end computer chips it cannot produce domestically. American farmers also want to know whether China will continue purchasing their goods, and the Chinese government wants to know if the United States will ever buy their cars.

All of this comes at a moment when both men are trying to cement their legacies and, therefore, may be more willing to pursue something genuinely historic. That could involve Taiwan, an imposed peace in Sudan, or growing unrest in Eritrea in Africa, where both countries wield influence. It could involve the future of Venezuela in South America or Cuba in North America. The talks could even touch on the war in Ukraine, where the two countries remain on opposite sides of the conflict. There is also the issue of shipping lanes in the Arctic.

The wild card, of course, is Trump. If he is in a good mood, almost anything is possible. If he feels slighted, he could just as easily end the summit early, board Air Force One, and begin firing off social media posts.

It is notable, however, that while the meeting was delayed during the onset of the Iranian war, both leaders still seemed intent on moving forward with the summit even though that conflict remains unresolved.

This is not a getting-to-know-you meeting like the ones during Trump’s first term. This is not simply a handshake summit where the point is that the handshake happened, as was often the case with Vladimir Putin of Russia or Kim Jong Un of North Korea.

This is a meeting designed to frame the new global order, and this will happen whether the two sides reach agreement or not. In many ways, the significance lies in the acknowledgment that the relationship is now openly viewed for what it is: a largely zero-sum competition between rival powers.

There may not be a more important moment for Trump, or for any American or Chinese president, in a very long time.

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