The agenda for the Trump-Xi summit in Washington on September 23, 2026 includes artificial intelligence safety, the Pentagon's 1260H blacklist, trade tariffs, and geopolitical issues like the war in Iran

Escalating conflict between Iran, the US, and regional powers centered on Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, military strikes across the Gulf, NATO's response, and broader diplomatic and economic fallout including sanctions, cyber warfare, and the Israel-Lebanon front. The maritime confrontation between the United States and Iran expanded alongside Iranian missile attacks elsewhere in the region. Iran said it targeted ten vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, while the United States denied that its warships were hit. Jordan said it intercepted 18 of 20 Iranian missiles directed towards a U.S. base, with the remaining two landing in unpopulated areas without reported casualties.

The complex and evolving relationship between the United States and China, encompassing diplomatic, military, economic, and technological dimensions, including tensions over Taiwan, competition in the Indo-Pacific, AI development, and broader questions of global power and deterrence.