Sanae Takaichi, in the role of prime minister for a week, has indicated that she wants to usher in a “new golden era” in Japan-U.S. relations
The North American President assured the Japanese Prime Minister that Washington is an ally of Tokyo “at the highest level”, at a time when the United States demands that the archipelago increase defense spending.
“I have always had great love and respect for Japan. I want to assure you that this will be a special relationship (…) We are an ally at the highest level,” Trump said.
Sanae Takaichi, in the role of prime minister for a week, has indicated that she wants to usher in a “new golden era” in Japan-US relations, at a time when Tokyo faces the growing military power of its Chinese neighbor.
Tokyo is the second stage of the North American President’s trip to Asia, after Malaysia and before South Korea, where the meeting will take place on Thursday with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, which is expected to seal a commercial commitment between the two powers.
Donald Trump noted on Monday that Takaichi was “a great ally and friend” of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, assassinated in 2022, with whom he himself became particularly close during his first term in the White House.
The Japanese leader thanked Donald Trump for his “lasting friendship” with Shinzo Abe, noting that she was impressed and felt inspired by the American leader.
Defense will be a central point of this match. Trump demands that United States allies increase military spending to continue to benefit from American protection.
Sanae Takaichi announced that Japan will increase the defense budget to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) starting from the current fiscal year, which ends on March 31, two years ahead of the previously established calendar.
Around 60,000 US military personnel are stationed in Japan, and Donald Trump will visit some of them today aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, off Yokosuka, south of Tokyo.
To put the 79-year-old billionaire in the best mood, the Japanese government plans, according to local press, to offer him golf clubs that belonged to Shinzo Abe and gold-plated golf balls.
Tokyo may also reveal the purchase of a hundred Ford F-150 pickup trucks, in a gesture of commercial goodwill.
Trade is also expected to dominate the conversation between Sanae Takaichi and Donald Trump, who has launched a widespread protectionist offensive since returning to power in January.
Japan and the United States have already reached a trade agreement this summer, but some points remain open.
In mid-September, Washington reduced total customs duties on Japanese automobiles, a sector crucial to the Asian country’s exports and employment, to 15%. Japanese manufacturers would like to see this rate reduced further.
Another topic of discussion is the form that the 550 billion dollars (471 billion dollars) of Japanese investments on North American soil, foreseen in the agreement concluded in July, will take.
Donald Trump sowed confusion by presenting this amount as a kind of colossal transfer that Japan would make to the United States. Japanese negotiator Ryosei Akazawa specified that only 1% to 2% of the amount would be real direct investments, with the remainder made up of loans and loan guarantees.
According to Japanese television NHK, Tokyo and Washington are also expected to sign protocols on rare earths and shipbuilding, a sector in which the United States intends to catch up.
Donald Trump still meets with leaders of Japanese companies today.
On Wednesday, he travels to South Korea, for a visit once again dominated by commercial issues. It is there that he will meet with the President of China, Xi Jinping, with the aim of putting an end to the trade war with Beijing, marked by customs duties and various restrictions.
“I think we’re going to reach an agreement,” Trump said on Monday.
