The New PM Aims to Benefit from Shinzo Abe's Legacy in Important Talks with Trump.
The nation's newly elected leader, Sanae Takaichi, is set to face her primary foreign policy challenge as she meets former US President Donald Trump for crucial negotiations in the Japanese capital.
Attention of their meeting is likely to center on economic and defense topics, marking a critical juncture for Japan's relationship with its powerful ally.
A Notable Premiership and International Introduction
Takaichi, who recently became Japan's first female prime minister after securing the top position of the governing LDP, made her global introduction at the recent Asean summit.
However, her upcoming talks with the former president is considered the real test that will establish the direction for coming two-way relations.
Handling Internal and Global Challenges
Takaichi faces a possibly unstable political landscape, having established a partnership that puts her a couple of votes short of a controlling number in the powerful lower house of the Diet.
This means, her administration will rely on other MPs to approve laws, introducing a layer of complexity to her governance.
Shared Perspectives and Diverging Policies
She holds the former president's suspicion of China's defense activities in the region, but each countries have experienced challenges from Trump's "US-first" economic policies.
Recently, Trump oversaw a truce deal between Thailand and Cambodia forces on the first leg of his Asian visit.
Defense Expansion and Spending Pledges
Takaichi has stated her determination to accelerate Japan's military expansion, planning to raise military expenditure to 2% of GDP by the close of the fiscal year.
This step matches a long-held request from Trump and represents the largest defense buildup for the nation since the Second World War.
Defense Cooperation and Strains
Japan has also moved to obtain "retaliatory" abilities, including cruise missiles from the US, and plans to deploy domestically developed longer-range systems.
But, the two-way defense treaty is still a source of strain, with the former president earlier suggesting that the nation should pay more for hosting US forces on its territory.
Trade Expectations and Talks
Few anticipate significant agreements on economic matters this week, particularly after latest duty adjustments provided a degree of ease to the country's economy.
The PM is expected to pursue further benefits by promising increased acquisitions of US goods, including pickup trucks, agricultural produce, and natural gas.
Individual Rapport and the Abe Connection
The importance the former president attributes to individual chemistry could work in the PM's advantage, given her strong relationship with assassinated ex-leader Shinzo Abe, who was among Trump's favorite world leaders.
He was the initial international figure to visit Trump after his election, and the two built a strong bond over shared interests such as golf.
Forthcoming Schedule and International Implications
Trump's visit to Japan will begin with a meeting with the Emperor at the royal residence in the capital.
It will be followed by talks with Takaichi at the official residence, the same location where Trump held talks with the former leader in previous years.
Afterward, Trump will travel to the Republic of Korea for the APEC summit, where he is set to meet Chinese president Xi.
