On June 4, 2018 ASPI President Kevin Rudd spoke with CNBC about U.S. President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit meeting with North Korea’s Leader Kim Jong Un.

Rudd believes that given “the alternative, which is us careering in the direction towards conflict" the international community should “give this summit a chance to work." He argues that President Trump’s strategy for the summit is essentially to “shake the tree” in order to figure out what the North Koreans will agree to that the U.S. can also “live with”.

There is a strategic risk involved in any deal Trump brokers during the summit, when it comes to U.S. alliances with Japan and South Korea. While Rudd does underline the delicate nature of balancing the interests of U.S. allies during the summit, he believes that "so far the President and the administration have kept both allies in the cart." (2 min., 54 sec.)

In the interview, Rudd also addressed ongoing U.S.-China trade talks, stating, "The Wilbur Ross talks…in Beijing over the last few days, have ended, in my judgement, pretty badly."

While acknowledging the desire for some corrective measures in the U.S.-China trade relationship, Rudd points out that the Administration is facing criticism from many corners for how it is approaching trade tensions. According to Rudd, "the real danger is the United States gets isolated on this in a big way" if "you start to carve yourself off from the Europeans and the Chinese simultaneously.” (2 min., 2 sec.)