key takeaways
- Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru will meet with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC on 7 February.
- Amidst Tokyo’s concerns about the Trump administration’s commitments to US alliances and the global trading system, Ishiba will be seeking reassurances that the US is still committed to Japan’s security, appreciates Japan’s defense spending and investments in the US, and will avoid tariffs on Japan for the time being.
- It is a risky meeting for Ishiba: he could face tough questioning at home for not standing up for Japan’s interests, but if he fails to bring home reassurances from Trump or to forge a sufficiently cordial relationship with Trump, his rivals in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) could step up their pressure.
Japan Foresight 