Prime Minister Shigro Ishiba is scheduled to meet Donald Trump at the White House on Friday, where the Japanese leader hopes to consolidate relations with the country's main foreign partner.
American and Japanese officials said economic and security concerns – especially North Korea – will be high on the agenda, along with advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Ishiba and Japanese officials However, the main purpose of the visit is to formulate personal relationships with Trump – who had a warm relationship with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his first term.
The first visit by an Asian leader was to the White House since the second Trump administration began in January.
The White House visit is the second by a foreign leader during the new administration, after the journey of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week.
“It will be the first face to face,” Ishiba told reporters before leaving to Washington. “I would like to focus on building a personal relationship of confidence between us.”
During the first period of Trump from 2017 to 2021, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe grew up and golf bonding. Abe resigned in 2020 and It was assassinated after two years.
Japanese officials said that Ishiba did “with all possible preparation” for his meeting with Trump, including requesting advice from the widow of Abe – who attended the opening as a guest of Melania Trump – and his predecessor Fumio Kishida.
Trump administration officials have described the senior visiting as focusing mainly on “peace and prosperity” in the Pacific Ocean. Trump is likely to offer realistic training exercises between the American army and the martial forces in Japan, as well as cooperation on defense investment.
The White House said that semi -conductors and artificial intelligence will also be on the agenda.
Japanese perspective, Ishiba is expected to confirm the role of Japan as a major economic partner for the United States, and highlights that Japan was the best foreign investor in the United States for five consecutive years.
Among the multinational companies, Japanese companies are the largest job establishments in 10 larger states and the second in six others.
In Kentucky alone, Japanese companies employ more than 45,000 people, primarily in the manufacture of car equipment.
Defense and security discussions, including the last Japan's commitment to raising defensive spending to 2 % – will also be much less than 5 % that Trump called for NATO allies – as well as the American commitment to defense in Taiwan and mutual concerns about North Korea.
Japanese officials consider North Korea's growing military relations with a disturbing Russia, especially the possibility of transferring Russian missile technology to their ally.
Trump administration officials said that Japan's “commitment” in North Korea is involved in North Korea.
