Japan's New PM Seeks to Benefit from Shinzo Abe's Connection in Crucial Negotiations with Trump.
Japan's freshly appointed leader, Sanae Takaichi, is set to face her initial significant diplomatic test as she meets ex-President Trump for high-stakes negotiations in the Japanese capital.
The agenda of their meeting is anticipated to center on economic and defense matters, marking a key juncture for Japan's ties with its influential ally.
The Significant Premiership and Global Introduction
The new PM, who recently became Japan's first female prime minister after securing the top position of the governing LDP, had her international introduction at the recent ASEAN summit.
However, her upcoming meeting with the former president is regarded as the true challenge that will establish the direction for coming bilateral relations.
Handling Internal and International Challenges
The prime minister confronts a potentially unstable government landscape, having established a coalition that leaves her a couple of votes short of a controlling number in the powerful chamber of parliament.
Consequently, her administration will depend on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation, adding a element of difficulty to her leadership.
Shared Views and Differing Policies
She holds the former president's suspicion of Chinese military presence in the region, yet each countries have faced issues from his "US-first" economic policies.
Lately, the former president oversaw a ceasefire agreement between Thailand and Cambodia authorities during the first stage of his Asian tour.
Defense Build-up and Spending Pledges
Takaichi has expressed her commitment to speed up Japan's military expansion, planning to increase military spending to two percent of gross domestic product by the close of the fiscal year.
This move aligns with a longstanding request from the former US leader and represents the largest defense expansion for Japan since the WWII.
Defense Partnership and Tensions
The country has also moved to acquire "retaliatory" abilities, including Tomahawk missiles from the United States, and intends to deploy domestically developed extended-range missiles.
But, the bilateral defense agreement is still a source of tension, with Trump earlier suggesting that Japan should contribute more for hosting US troops on its soil.
Economic Expectations and Negotiations
Not many expect significant concessions on trade issues during the visit, particularly after latest tariff changes provided a degree of ease to Japan's economy.
Takaichi is expected to pursue additional relief by promising greater acquisitions of American products, including vehicles, soybeans, and natural gas.
Individual Rapport and the Shinzo Abe Connection
The value the former president attributes to individual chemistry could work in Takaichi's advantage, given her strong ties with assassinated ex-leader Abe, who was among Trump's preferred international figures.
He was the initial international figure to visit the then president-elect after his election, and the pair built a close relationship over shared interests such as the sport.
Upcoming Agenda and Regional Significance
The former president's visit to Japan will begin with a meeting with the Emperor at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.
It will be followed by discussions with the PM at the official residence, the very location where Trump met with Abe in previous years.
Subsequently, the former president will travel to South Korea for the Apec summit, where he is scheduled to meet China's president Xi Jinping.
