WHITE HOUSE — U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met at the White House on Friday, declaring a “new golden age” for U.S.-Japan ties. Many in Japan had been anxious about whether Ishiba would be able to build rapport with the unpredictable Trump during their high-stakes first meeting, especially amid the U.S. president’s early foreign policy moves that have rattled allies and adversaries alike. But the leaders spoke highly of each other, with Trump kicking off their joint news conference by presenting Ishiba with a photo of them in the Oval Office earlier. “I wish I was as handsome as him, but I’m not,” Trump joked. He continued by underscoring that the United States is “totally committed” to Japan’s security and vowing to strengthen economic ties. At the Oval Office ahead of their meeting, Ishiba lavished praise on Trump, saying he was inspired by Trump’s undaunted spirit, even after an assassination attempt, to win the election and fulfil his mission to “Make America Great Again.” “And also, you will redouble your efforts to bring peace to the world,” Ishiba said. “And that is why God saved you in that experience.” Ishiba’s visit comes amid Tokyo’s concern at what Trump has said to some U.S. allies and partners: He has said he wants to absorb Canada as a U.S. state, acquire Greenland from Denmark and take control of the Panama Canal. “We would like to first establish a higher relationship of trust and cooperation between two countries, especially the two leaders,” a senior Japanese government official told reporters during a briefing Thursday. The U.S. president has imposed new 10% tariffs on China and 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico — although the latter two have been delayed, at least temporarily. He has warned of possible tariffs against other countries, especially those with whom the U.S. holds a trade deficit, such as Japan. On Friday, Trump said he would enact reciprocal tariffs on trading partners. “A country pays so much, it charges us so much, and we do the same, so very reciprocal,” he said. Ishiba declined to say whether he will retaliate. Other strains on the U.S.-Japan relationship include former President Joe Biden’s blocking of a $15 billion acquisition bid by Japan’s largest steel producer, Nippon Steel, for Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel. Biden blocked the deal during the final weeks of his term, citing national security concerns. Trump has said he also opposes the deal but now appears open to negotiation. “They’ll be looking at an investment rather than a purchase,” Trump said. “We didn’t like the idea. U.S. Steel is a very important company to us.” Japan agreed to increase investments in key U.S. sectors, as well as purchasing more American liquefied natural gas – important agenda items for Trump. Continuity on security front In a joint statement, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific through “multilayered cooperation with like-minded nations.” Under then-Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan became a key player in what the Biden administration called a “lattice-like strategic architecture” to bolster deterrence against the two main U.S. adversaries in the Pacific: China and North Korea. Biden’s approach connected Tokyo with other allies in trilateral formats and other groupings, including with South Korea, Australia and the Philippines, to deter regional threats in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the Korean Peninsula. The Trump administration will continue to support trilateral efforts and some of the working groups that have come out from under those over the last few years, a Trump official said in a briefing to reporters Friday morning. “There may be some adjustments to where the focus is on trilateral cooperation, but I think largely you will see continuity,” the official said. During his first term, Trump and then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed on the “free and open Indo-Pacific” framework to promote peace and prosperity in the region. The two countries also agreed to elevate what’s known as the Quad grouping with India and Australia. The fact that the Trump administration sees those formats as a critical part of its strategy in the Pacific is important, said Jeffrey Hornung, the Japan Lead for the RAND National Security Research Division. The joint leaders’ statement “follows the trend of keeping the alliance on an even-keel regardless of the administration,” Hornung told VOA. He pointed out that the statement includes language used by past administrations such as “strong opposition” to any attempts by China to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea, against “provocative activities” in the South China Sea and emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The two leaders also expressed support for “Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations.” Hornung noted it as a new development that is “significant because it demonstrates an effort to try to give Taiwan more diplomatic support in the limited areas they can.” In dealing with the threats from Pyongyang, the leaders reaffirmed commitment to “complete denuclearization of North Korea.”
