Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is meeting today (Friday) at the White House with President Donald Trump.
Japanese officials say they want to reaffirm the U.S.-Japan alliance and build strong personal ties between Prime Minister Ishiba and President Trump.
Since the beginning of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump has increased pressure on countries he claims are exploiting the United States.
“These countries are stealing our wealth, our jobs, our companies,” President Trump states.
President Trump has threatened allied countries with tariffs and has suggested that Washington should take control of Greenland and make Canada the 51st state of the United States.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s first meeting with President Trump takes place in this context. This has caused concern among many people in Tokyo, says Professor Jeffrey J. Hall.
“The media and Japanese residents hope that Prime Minister Ishiba can leave the meeting without becoming a victim of a new attack from America,” says Professor Hall from Kanda University.
During President Trump’s first term, U.S.-Japan tensions were eased, partly due to the diplomacy of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
This approach may be difficult for Prime Minister Ishiba, who has a very different personality.
“He is an academic. He likes to speak in detail, which can be good in a parliamentary debate or another setting… but it could have the opposite effect in the type of conversation President Trump prefers,” says Professor Hall.
Some in Japan do not believe it is a good idea for Prime Minister Ishiba to meet with President Trump. Instead, they say it would be better for him to stay off President Trump’s radar for as long as possible, reports VOA.
Others argue that it is better to be proactive, partly to protect against any future strain in the alliance.
“Some people say the meeting is not a good idea, but you have to take risks if you want to have a better relationship,” says Mieko Nakabayashi, a professor at Waseda University and former Japanese legislator.
This is the same dynamic faced by almost every U.S. ally as President Trump continues to pursue his “America First” approach to the world.
