Trump 'very much looks forward' to meeting with Japanese Prime Minister

(CLO) US President Donald Trump said last weekend that Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will visit him this week at the White House and he is looking forward to the meeting.

“They will come to talk to me and I look forward to it,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Mr. Trump did not announce a specific time, but sources revealed that the meeting could take place on February 7 in Washington, focusing on strengthening alliances, enhancing deterrence and responding to regional security challenges.

The Japanese government has informed a senior lawmaker that Ishiba is scheduled to make a three-day visit starting on February 6, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump said: "I have great respect for Japan. I like Japan," but he did not directly mention Prime Minister Ishiba, instead talking about former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

"Prime Minister Abe was a very close friend of mine. What happened to him was very sad and one of the saddest days," Trump said, referring to the assassination of Prime Minister Abe in 2022. Abe had a particularly close relationship with Trump during his first term as president.

US President Donald Trump. Photo: White House

During their upcoming talks, Ishiba and Trump are expected to focus on the security situation in the Indo- Pacific region. Ishiba is likely to emphasize Japan's commitment to increasing defense spending to counter threats.

In addition to security, the meeting could also touch on trade and investment between the two countries. Japan has been the largest foreign direct investor in the United States for the past five years. However, the bilateral economic relationship was hampered when the previous Biden administration blocked Nippon Steel's acquisition of United States Steel Corp.

Mr Trump, who has also strongly opposed the sale of the iconic steel company, is likely to discuss with Mr Ishiba how to maintain trade relations between the two countries amid a tightening of US economic protectionism.

The upcoming meeting between Ishiba and Trump will be Trump's second with a foreign leader since taking office on January 20. On February 4, Trump is scheduled to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.

Hoai Phuong (according to Kyodo News, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ong-trump-noi-rat-mong-cho-cuoc-hoi-dam-voi-thu-tuong-nhat-ban-vao-tuan-nay-post332588.html