The New Prime Minister Seeks to Benefit from Abe's Connection in Important Negotiations with Donald Trump.
The nation's recently chosen leader, Takaichi, is ready to confront her initial significant foreign policy challenge as she engages with ex-President Trump for important talks in Tokyo.
The agenda of their summit is expected to center on economic and defense topics, representing a pivotal moment for Tokyo's relationship with its influential ally.
A Historic Leadership and International Debut
The new PM, who recently assumed the role of Japan's first female prime minister after winning the top position of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had her international debut at the recent ASEAN meeting.
But, her forthcoming talks with Trump is regarded as the real challenge that will set the tone for coming bilateral relations.
Handling Domestic and Global Pressures
The prime minister faces a possibly shaky government landscape, having established a coalition that leaves her a couple of votes short of a controlling number in the powerful chamber of parliament.
Consequently, her government will depend on other lawmakers to pass legislation, introducing a layer of difficulty to her governance.
Common Perspectives and Diverging Interests
Takaichi shares the former president's wariness of China's military activities in the region, yet each countries have experienced issues from his "America-first" trade approach.
Recently, the former president facilitated a truce agreement between Thai and Cambodian authorities on the initial stage of his Asian tour.
Defense Build-up and Budget Commitments
Takaichi has expressed her determination to speed up Japan's military build-up, planning to raise military spending to two percent of GDP by the end of March.
This step aligns with a long-held demand from the former US leader and represents the biggest military buildup for the nation since the WWII.
Defense Cooperation and Strains
The country has also taken steps to acquire "counterstrike" abilities, including Tomahawk weapons from the United States, and plans to use locally made longer-range systems.
However, the bilateral security treaty is still a point of strain, with the former president earlier suggesting that Japan should contribute more for stationing US forces on its soil.
Economic Outlook and Negotiations
Few expect significant agreements on economic issues this week, especially after recent duty changes offered some ease to Japan's economy.
Takaichi is likely to seek further relief by promising increased purchases of US products, including vehicles, agricultural produce, and natural gas.
Individual Chemistry and the Abe Connection
The value the former president attributes to personal chemistry could benefit Takaichi's favor, given her strong ties with the late ex-leader Abe, who was one of Trump's preferred world leaders.
He was the initial foreign leader to visit Trump after his victory, and the two built a close relationship over shared activities such as the sport.
Upcoming Agenda and Regional Implications
Trump's trip to the country will start with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in the capital.
This will be followed by discussions with the PM at the official residence, the very venue where he met with Abe in 2019.
Afterward, the former president will travel to the Republic of Korea for the Apec meeting, where he is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
