As the Japanese Prime Minister prepares for his first meeting with President Trump, he will make personal connections with the leaders of the superpowers whose country is economically and militarily dependent. I want it. But in the unpredictable Trump White House, even simple encounters and gifts can be dangerous gambling.
The summit between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Isgaba, scheduled for Friday, is the result of months of behind-the-scenes efforts by a wide range of Japanese people. Not only are diplomats and lawmakers, but they are one of them. The country's wealthiest investor and the widow of the former prime minister who was assassinated.
When he arrives at the White House, Isba seeks peace of mind that Trump will not target Japan in the trade war or waive America's security guarantees since 1945. – north korea.
In exchange, the Japanese Prime Minister will receive concessions that include a promise to buy more American weapons and energy, invest in US-based artificial intelligence, and share more defence responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific region. It's expected.
“This summit will be a moment of truth,” said Narushige Michishita, professor of security affairs at the National Institute of Postgraduate Policy in Tokyo. “Does Trump see Japan as an essential partner in the Asia-Pacific region, or is we another counterpart across the negotiation table?”
So far, Japan's name has not appeared when Trump threatened to impose tariffs on many other major US allies and trading partners. The two leaders seemed to have gotten off to a good start when Isba called Trump in November to congratulate him on his election victory.
“It was my first time talking to him, but he seemed friendly,” Isba told reporters. “I got the impression that he was someone I could speak honestly.”
But the former diplomat says asking the mercury US president to observe the status quo would be a tall order. These are early days of management of a trading president who wants to show results to his supporters.
“Isba is taking risks,” said Glen Fukushima, a former trade officer and former president of Japan's US Chamber of Commerce. “The more time he spends with Trump, the more likely he is to make new demands.”
Then there's a possibility that some analysts are currently calling it a “Gaza surprise.” This is a reference to the summit between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when the US president blinded the world by proposing a acquisition of Palestinian territory.
Prior to Japan's summit, Isba prepared an informal “Trump Strategy Council” from all over Japan's government, bringing together the “Trump Strategy Council,” the top officials of the government. News media.
Isba also tried to learn from one of his predecessors, Abe Shinzo Shinzo Abe. Abe used in-person meetings to build relationships with Trump during the first Trump administration.
One of Abe's strategies was to carry a gift. When he became the first world leader to meet newly elected Trump at Trump Tower in 2016, Abe presented his host with a gold-plated golf club. At the summit three years later, Abe brought a bigger present. This is a promise to buy 105 American F-35 fighter jets worth billions of dollars.
On Monday, Isba said he plans to talk to Trump about the joint development of artificial intelligence. He met with the sons of Openly Sam Altman and Masayoshi, a Japanese technology investor who stands next to Trump in December to pledge a $100 billion investment to create 100,000 jobs in the United States. After that, I made a comment.
Isba is also expected to highlight a significant increase in security spending, which could lead to additional US weapons purchases. Japan plans to expand its defense budget by 65% over the five years that will end in 2027.
Still, Isba's efforts to follow Abe's playbook aren't always going well. After Trump's reelection last year, Isba tried to meet him, but was turned down because the presidential election had not immediately met world leaders.
Japan turned its eyes to Abe's widow, Akie Abe. Akie Abe attended the inauguration ceremony as a guest of Trump's first woman, Melania Trump. When Trump mentioned the upcoming summit with Isba, he mentioned his personal ties with the late Abe.
“Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was a very close friend of mine,” Trump told reporters last Friday. “What happened to him was very sad.
There were concerns that Isba could not replicate Abe's personal chemistry with Trump. Abe was an avid golfer who played with Trump for a Japanese club, but Isba likes interests such as building plastic models.
Kiuko Notoya and Hisako Ueno contributed to the report.
