Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Washington Visit Aims to Establish Trust with President Trump

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is preparing for his initial meeting with President Donald Trump. He has consulted with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, both of whom recently met Trump at the White House. Ishiba also sought advice from former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and spoke with the widow of Shinzo Abe, who had a close relationship with Trump.

Ishiba aims to establish a personal bond with Trump during their first face-to-face meeting. "It will be our first face-to-face talks, so I would like to focus on building a personal relationship of trust between the two of us," Ishiba stated before his visit to Washington. This task is challenging, given Trump's past rapport with Abe, who resigned in 2020 and was tragically assassinated in 2022.

Strengthening US-Japan Relations

Ishiba's visit marks him as the second world leader to meet Trump during his new term, following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Arriving on Thursday evening for a brief stay, Ishiba planned to spend over two hours with Trump on Friday for a working lunch and joint press conference before returning to Tokyo.

During their Oval Office meeting, Ishiba expressed admiration for Trump's resilience after surviving an assassination attempt. Despite the whirlwind trip, Ishiba sees it as crucial for maintaining strong US-Japan ties amid Trump's "America First" approach. Both nations face challenges from China's assertiveness and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

Trade and Economic Discussions

Trump plans to discuss various topics, including joint military exercises, Japanese investment in the US, cybersecurity improvements, space cooperation, and developing technologies like AI and semiconductors. Ishiba intends to highlight the longstanding US-Japan alliance, reminding Trump of Japanese companies' significant investment in the US economy.

Japan has been the top foreign investor in the US over the past five years, employing nearly one million Americans. However, the US had a trade deficit exceeding USD 68 billion with Japan in 2024. A senior administration official noted that Trump views trade deficits as indicators of economic fairness and relationship strength.

Addressing Sensitive Issues

Another topic on Ishiba's agenda is Nippon Steel's attempt to acquire US Steel for USD 14.1 billion. Former President Joe Biden blocked this deal due to national security concerns. While Ishiba may not bring up the acquisition directly, he is prepared to advocate for it if Trump raises the issue.

Nippon Steel and US Steel have filed a lawsuit to overturn the deal's blockage. Nippon argues that the acquisition aligns with Trump's goals of promoting US investment and manufacturing. Defence spending will also be discussed; Japan plans to increase its defence budget to 2% of GDP by 2027.

Japan supports the US defence industry by purchasing fighter jets and missile systems. Trump has urged NATO allies to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP, a challenging target for many countries. Ishiba might remind Trump of Japan's contributions to alleviate any concerns.

Building Personal Connections

Ishiba invited Son and Altman to his office while preparing for his meeting with Trump. The US president recently hosted these executives along with Oracle CEO Larry Ellison at the White House to announce a USD 500 billion AI infrastructure investment. Ishiba expressed his desire for deeper AI cooperation between Japan and the US.

Senator Bill Hagerty noted that Ishiba sees this meeting as an opportunity to rebuild strong ties between Japan and Trump. Abe had developed a close bond with Trump through golf and social events during his first term. Hagerty suggested that Ishiba might consider taking up golf again as a diplomatic tool.

The meeting between Ishiba and Trump is pivotal for reinforcing bilateral relations amid global challenges. Both leaders aim to address key issues while fostering personal connections that could benefit their countries' partnership in various sectors.