Shaima Khalil
Tokyo correspondent
Watch: Trump and Japanese PM meet in the White House
If Japan needed reassurance, it was indeed always the best ally and friend of the United States in Asia-Pacific more and more unstable, that obtained this and then some.
But what struck Trump-Eshiba’s meeting in the White House was what did not happen.
Unlike most of Trump’s national and global dynamics so far, it has not been controversial or conflicting.
“On television, he is very scary,” said Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba after Friday’s meeting.
“But when I met him, he was very sincere, very powerful and strong,” he added.
There are a lot of things that bind Washington and Tokyo. Japan has been the best foreign investor in the United States for five consecutive years, creating thousands of jobs. And there are 54,000 American soldiers stationed in Japan.
But President Donald Trump gave his friends and enemies much to fear: tariff wars against China, Canada and Mexico to his American “property” of Gaza’s proposal and his sanctions against the International Criminal Court .
“Trump has made erratic decisions to countries who have considered themselves American friends,” said Jeffrey Hall, a speaker at the University of Japan International Studies.
“There was a fear in Tokyo that the same could happen: that Trump could slap huge prices on Japan or start a dispute. But that did not happen,” he added.
Trump’s study sessions’
Although Trump did not exclude the prices against Tokyo, it was not the main characteristic of this meeting.
Ishiba went to Washington prepared. He had studied. Literally. He organized “study sessions” with the staff and asked for advice from his predecessor, Fumio Kishida.
He also had the help of the widow of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had a close relationship with Trump during his first presidency, forged on the golf course.
Ishiba’s homework have borne fruit.
Apart from the moment when Trump wrongly called Japanese Steel as “Nissan”, there was not many breeding moment like the many other announcements of the American president.
In fact – with regard to Japan – this meeting was reassuring.
Getty images
Japan has been the best foreign investor in the United States for five years
The two leaders seemed to have met an eye on the plans of their country to stimulate trade and defense inaugurating a “golden era” of Japanese-American relations.
Ishiba has announced her country’s plans to increase investments in the United States to 1 TF (806 billion pounds sterling), as the two economic powers rebalance trade relations.
Ishiba said Japanese car manufacturers would stimulate investments, while Tokyo would widen imports of US liquefied natural gas (LNG).
It would have been music with Trump’s ears and a boost to his announcement “Drill, Baby, Drill” of his inauguration speech.
The two men also managed to find common ground on the controversial issue of Japanese Steel.
Trump said Nippon would invest “strongly” in US Steel, based in Pennsylvania, without taking a majority participation.
The attempt to take control of the US Steel of the Japanese company was previously blocked by President Joe Biden for national security land.
Keep the talks
There were enough boxes chewed so that Japan breathes easily – but the main objective of Ishiba’s visit was personal.
The Japanese Prime Minister was in a heavy political position at home – his minority government keeping a low grip on power after being humiliated during the general elections of October when they lost their majority in power.
Ishiba was desperate for a victory.
The man himself did not arouse much confidence in the way in which he was doing in front of a notorious asset.
“For weeks, local media have played the idea that he would not succeed diplomatically – that he was clumsy, not a sociable person and that Trump would eat his lunch, if he went to Washington,” said Mr. .
But Ishiba left with what looks very much like success.
The former Japanese Defense Minister is a veteran politician known for his dense speeches in Parliament. Observers have said that such speeches were able to confuse some of his opponents and have worn others.
But in a “Trump strategy meeting” with his staff, the biggest council he would have received was: “Conclusion first. Stay simple”.
“Ishiba has followed a game book to flatter Trump personally and offer him economic investments in the United States instead of doing it,” said Hall.
Avoid confrontation
There are several problems on which Japan and the United States may disagree. Noticed Trump’s proposal for an American takeover of the Gaza Strip, which aroused fierce criticism in the world.
Japan has reiterated its long -standing position to support a two -state solution.
“We will not change our position,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Takeshi Iwaya last week.
Tokyo also nervously looks at Trump’s trade war with China.
But Hall said Japan would not be trained in the American-Chinese trade war if it could help it.
Regarding China, Japan must find a good balance.
Beijing is Tokyo’s largest trading partner. China is one of the largest investment destinations for Japanese companies.
On the defense and the diplomatic front, the United States and Japan are challenged by the influence and the growing affirmation of China in the region and in the world.
Particularly with the movements of Chinese soldiers now frequent and provocative in waters near Taiwan that Beijing considers a province of Renegat.
In 2022, Japan, a pacifist nation, announced that it would double its military expenses by 2027, citing threats posed by China and North Korea, and saying that it acquires the ability to strike enemy bases .
The changes have marked the most dramatic overhaul of Japan’s security strategy since it adopted a pacifist constitution after the Second World War.
North Korea pursuing its nuclear program, South Korea in political collapse and current American-Chinese rivalry, Japan again presented itself as a least difficult and least without American friend in the region .
“Japan will avoid any conformation with Trump when possible. It will most likely become a friend” yes “,” said Hall.
