Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is gearing up for his first face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington. Ishiba has been diligently laying the groundwork for this crucial encounter, seeking advice from key figures such as SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, both of whom recently met with Trump at the White House. Additionally, Ishiba consulted with his predecessor, Fumio Kishida, and reached out to the widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who shared a close relationship with Trump.
During his visit to the White House, Ishiba aims to establish a personal relationship of trust with Trump, a task made challenging by the strong bond Trump had with Abe. The meeting holds significance as Ishiba is only the second world leader to visit Trump during his new term, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The discussions between Ishiba and Trump are expected to cover various critical issues, including the U.S.-Japan alliance, defense spending, and economic matters. Ishiba will likely address concerns over China's assertiveness in the Pacific and North Korea's nuclear capabilities. He may also touch upon the blocked acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, emphasizing the contributions of Japanese companies to the American economy.
Furthermore, defense spending, particularly Japan's commitment to increase it to 2% of GDP by 2027, is likely to be on the agenda. Ishiba could highlight Japan's significant investments in U.S. defense systems to reassure Trump of their support. The leaders may also explore opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence to enhance global security.
Despite the challenges ahead, Ishiba remains optimistic about the meeting, expressing his desire to deepen cooperation between Japan and the United States. As he prepares to engage with Trump, Ishiba is focused on strengthening the ties that have historically bound the two nations together.
