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Global leaders gathered this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S.–China relationship has reached a "very good equilibrium," with disagreements now less likely to escalate into full-scale economic conflict.

Bessent also mentioned that Presidents Trump and Xi could meet up to four times in 2026, including a planned Trump visit to Beijing in April, a potential Xi trip to Washington or Mar-a-Lago this summer, the G20 in Miami, and the APEC meeting in Shenzhen. His remarks and the prospect of multiple leader-level meetings seemingly indicate an effort by both sides to keep trade and strategic frictions from escalating, even as broader competition persists.

President Trump delivered a speech at Davos as well, discussing a preliminary framework for a Greenland deal — that continues to draw global criticism — aimed at expanding U.S. strategic influence in the Arctic, including access to rare-earth minerals crucial for defense and technology. While he said would not use force to acquire Greenland, he emphasized his ability to negotiate through tariff threats. Trump framed the move as countering Chinese and Russian ambitions, though analysts note that China's practical engagement in Greenland remains limited.

Meanwhile, following meetings with President Trump at the Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy joined top U.S. and Russian officials today in Abu Dhabi for trilateral talks on Ukraine's territorial disputes in Donbas, nearly four years into the ongoing war in Ukraine. The negotiations come amid intensified Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Zelenskiy emphasized that Russia must be ready to end the war and said a deal on U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv is ready, pending agreement on a date and location for signing. Kyiv continues to resist Russian demands to cede territory, while Moscow maintains that control of all of Donbas is a key condition. China has signaled support for the meeting, stating that dialogue and negotiation are the only viable ways out of the crisis.

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