Politics
Japan PM Set to Meet Trump During U.S. Visit from Feb 6-8.
Published On Tue, 04 Feb 2025
Esha Nandakumar
0 Views

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is set to visit the United States from February 6 to 8, where he will hold his first in-person summit with President Donald Trump, government spokesperson Yoshimasa Hayashi announced on Tuesday (Feb 4). "This visit is an opportunity to build a strong relationship of trust with the new US administration and elevate the US-Japan alliance to new heights," Hayashi stated.
Key topics on Ishiba’s agenda include increasing imports of US shale gas, aligning with Trump's pro-energy policies, and addressing Japan’s concerns over Trump’s stance on foreign investments. He is expected to raise the issue of Biden’s previous decision to block Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion bid for US Steel, which Tokyo viewed as an unexpected move against Japanese interests. In addition, Ishiba will extend an invitation for Trump to visit Japan at the earliest opportunity.
His visit comes amid growing regional security concerns, particularly China’s expanding military presence. Ishiba has emphasized the need for deeper US-Japan cooperation to maintain stability and prevent a power vacuum in the region. Beyond government discussions, Japan’s business ties with the US remain a focal point. In December, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son met Trump and announced a $100 billion investment in the US, followed by a $500 billion AI project called “Stargate,” in collaboration with Oracle and OpenAI. Just before Ishiba’s visit, Son and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman met with the Japanese PM to discuss expanding Stargate into Japan, signaling deeper technological cooperation between the two nations.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.