Shigeru Ishiba Visits the U.S. to Meet Trump, Aims to Forge a "Golden Era" for the U.S.-Japan Alliance | WPN World People News

On February 6, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited the United States to meet with President Donald Trump. This marks the second meeting Trump has had with a foreign leader since taking office. As America’s closest ally in Asia, Japan shares concerns over Trump’s "America First" approach and whether Japan might face similar treatment as Canada, Mexico, and Europe. According to Nikkei News, during this visit, Japan is expected to propose purchasing more U.S. natural gas to align with Trump’s "drill, baby, drill" plan. The two nations are set to release a joint statement, aiming to usher in a "golden era" and elevate the U.S.-Japan alliance to a new level.

Sheila Smith, a senior fellow at the U.S. think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), told AFP that unlike Trump's meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, which sparked global debate over the "takeover of the Gaza Strip," the meeting with Ishiba is expected to be calm and composed. Japan has reduced its imports of liquefied natural gas from Russia and will use this opportunity to purchase more U.S. gas, strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. However, with Trump’s meticulous approach to finances, the issue of how the U.S. and Japan share defense costs will be another headache for Ishiba, especially considering the 54,000 U.S. troops currently stationed in Japan.