“Trump Proposal Indicates Importance of US-Japan Relations… Coordination Underway” – [Palm Beach=AP/Newsis] President-elect Donald Trump conveyed to Japan that he is open to meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in mid-January, as reported by Yomiuri Shimbun on the 19th. The photo shows Trump holding a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on the 16th (local time), December 19, 2024.
[Seoul=Newsis] Reporter Kim Ye-jin – According to Yomiuri Shimbun, citing multiple Japanese government officials, President-elect Donald Trump has expressed an intention to meet with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in mid-January. The newspaper noted that this would occur just before Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
While the Japanese government favors a formal summit after Trump’s inauguration, they have begun reviewing Prime Minister Ishiba’s possible visit to the U.S. in January based on Trump’s expressed interest. The Japanese government and ruling party are considering convening the regular Diet session on January 21, before which Prime Minister Ishiba plans to visit Malaysia and Indonesia.
The proposed timing from Trump falls in the third week of January, which aligns well with Prime Minister Ishiba’s schedule for a U.S. visit. However, strong opinions within the Japanese government suggest seeking a visit in February for a more settled discussion post-inauguration. A Japanese Foreign Ministry official proposed that it would be better to have a calm discussion after Trump’s formal inauguration.
Despite these suggestions, there is also a welcoming view of Trump’s proposal as an expression of valuing US-Japan relations, leading to earnest coordination of the visit. Prime Minister Ishiba, who took office last October, held a brief phone call with Trump but has not met in person. A previous plan to stop by the U.S. after a South American tour last month was abandoned as Trump’s team had stated he would not meet foreign leaders before his inauguration.
Nevertheless, Trump did meet with other leaders like Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. After meeting with Akie Abe, the widow of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump expressed his desire to meet Prime Minister Ishiba, stating, “I definitely want to meet him; I will,” and indicated willingness if the Japanese side desired such a meeting before his inauguration.
The Japanese government has stated that it was not involved in Trump’s meeting with Akie Abe, but this interaction has helped pave the way for coordinating talks between Prime Minister Ishiba and President-elect Trump. Trump also mentioned sending books and souvenirs to Prime Minister Ishiba through Akie Abe.