Even as Japan grapples with a politically unstable situation at home, the country is actively working to maintain strong ties with US President-elect Donald Trump, Bloomberg reports.
The recent announcement of a $100 billion investment pledge by SoftBank Group Corp. to create thousands of US jobs follows a visit to Washington by a close aide to Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and a dinner meeting between Trump, his wife Melania, and the widow of the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
The close relationship between Abe and Trump during Trump’s first term is widely cited as a key factor in the stability of US-Japan relations. Concerns have arisen in Tokyo about Ishiba’s ability to forge a similarly strong bond, given his limited international experience. However, Trump’s positive comments about Abe and his openness to a meeting with Ishiba offer a measure of reassurance.
While Trump praised Japan’s economic contributions to the US, including past SoftBank investments, past friction remains. Japan faced US tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with criticism over its trade surplus. Trump’s previous demands to increase Japanese payments for hosting US troops were ultimately unfulfilled.
Ishiba’s attempts to engage with Trump faced a setback in November when a planned meeting was cancelled. However, a subsequent meeting between Ishiba’s national security advisor, Akihisa Nagashima, and members of Trump’s team appears to have eased concerns, with Nagashima expressing confidence in Trump’s commitment to the US-Japan alliance.
Further uncertainty was dispelled with Trump’s announcement of George Glass as the next US ambassador to Japan. While Glass lacks direct ties to Japan, his experience as a former investment banker and ambassador to Portugal suggests a focus on economic and diplomatic engagement.
Despite efforts to build rapport, tensions remain, particularly regarding the political resistance in the US to Nippon Steel Corp.’s bid to acquire United States Steel Corp., with President Biden reportedly planning to block the deal and Trump vowing to kill it.
