🔗 Share this article

The nation's recently chosen prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is ready to undertake her initial significant diplomatic challenge as she sits down with former US President Trump for high-stakes negotiations in the Japanese capital.

Attention of their meeting is likely to center on economic and defense matters, representing a pivotal moment for Tokyo's relationship with its influential partner.

The Significant Premiership and Global Debut

Takaichi, who just became Japan's initial woman leader after securing the top position of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had her international debut at the latest ASEAN meeting.

However, her forthcoming meeting with Trump is seen as the real test that will establish the direction for future two-way cooperation.

Navigating Internal and Global Challenges

The prime minister faces a possibly shaky political situation, having established a coalition that puts her a couple of votes short of a majority in the influential lower house of the Diet.

This means, her government will depend on other MPs to pass laws, introducing a layer of difficulty to her governance.

Common Perspectives and Differing Interests

She holds Trump's wariness of Chinese military presence in the Asia-Pacific, but each countries have experienced challenges from his "America-first" trade policies.

Lately, the former president facilitated a truce deal between Thai and Cambodia authorities during the first stage of his Asian tour.

Defense Expansion and Budget Commitments

Takaichi has expressed her commitment to speed up Japan's defense expansion, planning to raise military expenditure to 2% of gross domestic product by the end of March.

This step matches a long-held demand from the former US leader and represents the largest military buildup for the nation since the WWII.

Defense Partnership and Strains

The country has also taken steps to obtain "retaliatory" abilities, including Tomahawk missiles from the United States, and plans to deploy domestically developed longer-range systems.

However, the bilateral defense treaty remains a source of tension, with Trump earlier suggesting that the nation should contribute more for stationing American forces on its soil.

Economic Outlook and Talks

Few expect significant concessions on economic issues during the visit, especially after recent tariff changes provided a degree of relief to the country's export sector.

Takaichi is likely to pursue further relief by committing to increased purchases of US goods, including pickup trucks, soybeans, and natural gas.

Personal Chemistry and the Shinzo Abe Connection

The importance Trump attributes to individual chemistry could work in Takaichi's advantage, given her close relationship with assassinated former prime minister Abe, who was one of his favorite world leaders.

Abe was the first foreign leader to meet the then president-elect after his victory, and the two developed a strong bond over mutual interests such as golf.

Forthcoming Agenda and International Implications

The former president's trip to the country will begin with a audience with the Emperor at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

It will be succeeded by discussions with the PM at the state guest house, the very venue where Trump met with the former leader in 2019.

Subsequently, the former president will proceed to the Republic of Korea for the APEC summit, where he is scheduled to meet Chinese leader Xi.