Japan's New PM Hopes to Benefit from Shinzo Abe's Influence in Important Talks with Trump.
Japan's freshly appointed leader, Takaichi, is set to face her first major foreign policy examination as she meets ex-President Donald Trump for crucial negotiations in Tokyo.
Attention of their meeting is anticipated to revolve around trade and defense topics, signaling a key moment for Tokyo's relationship with its influential ally.
The Significant Leadership and International Introduction
The new PM, who just became Japan's first female prime minister after securing the top position of the governing LDP, had her global introduction at the latest ASEAN meeting.
But, her upcoming talks with the former president is considered the real test that will establish the direction for coming bilateral relations.
Navigating Internal and International Pressures
The prime minister confronts a potentially unstable government landscape, having established a coalition that puts her two seats short of a controlling number in the powerful lower house of parliament.
Consequently, her government will depend on opposition MPs to approve legislation, introducing a layer of complexity to her leadership.
Shared Perspectives and Differing Interests
She shares Trump's wariness of China's defense presence in the Asia-Pacific, yet both nations have experienced challenges from his "America-first" economic policies.
Recently, the former president oversaw a truce deal between Thailand and Cambodia forces during the first stage of his Asia visit.
Defense Expansion and Spending Pledges
The leader has stated her determination to accelerate Japan's military build-up, planning to increase military expenditure to two percent of GDP by the close of the fiscal year.
This step aligns with a longstanding request from Trump and represents the largest defense expansion for the nation since the WWII.
Security Cooperation and Strains
The country has also moved to acquire "retaliatory" capabilities, including cruise weapons from the US, and intends to use domestically developed longer-range systems.
But, the two-way defense treaty is still a source of strain, with the former president previously suggesting that the nation should pay more for hosting US troops on its soil.
Economic Expectations and Talks
Few expect major concessions on economic matters this week, especially after latest duty changes provided some ease to Japan's export sector.
The PM is expected to seek further relief by promising increased acquisitions of US goods, including pickup trucks, soybeans, and natural gas.
Individual Rapport and the Shinzo Abe Connection
The value the former president attributes to personal chemistry could work in the PM's favor, given her strong relationship with the late ex-leader Shinzo Abe, who was among Trump's favorite world leaders.
Abe was the initial international leader to meet the then president-elect after his victory, and the two developed a strong relationship over shared activities such as golf.
Upcoming Agenda and Regional Significance
The former president's visit to the country will begin with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the royal residence in the capital.
This will be succeeded by discussions with the PM at the official residence, the very venue where he met with Abe in 2019.
Afterward, the former president will proceed to the Republic of Korea for the APEC meeting, where he is set to meet Chinese president Xi Jinping.