US-Japan Relations: Small reliance, big gain

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is the second national leader to meet with US President Donald Trump since Trump returned to power.

After winning his first term in 2016, Mr. Trump received then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his private residence.

Mr. Ishiba currently does not have a close personal relationship with Mr. Trump like Mr. Abe, so he does not have such advantages and benefits.

US President Donald Trump receives Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House on February 7, 2025

The US-Japan relationship is more important to Mr. Ishiba than to Mr. Trump, because the US only competes strategically with Russia and China. Japan, on the other hand, is not only directly entangled with both China and Russia, but also faces challenges and security threats from the DPRK. Washington needs Tokyo as a strategic military ally, while Tokyo needs Washington as a support and security guarantee.

Therefore, Mr. Ishiba has a great and urgent need to win over Mr. Trump personally and avoid a trade conflict between the two countries in the context of the new White House owner intentionally using tariffs as a tool to achieve goals and benefits in relations with external partners. Mr. Trump wants Japan to overcome its trade surplus with the US, so Mr. Ishiba announced that Japan will import more oil and gas from the US. Mr. Trump wants to protect production in the US, so Mr. Ishiba pledged to increase investment in the US. And Mr. Ishiba pleased Mr. Trump by proactively increasing the defense budget.

This loss is not really that big of a deal for Tokyo, because Japan will have to import more gas and oil anyway, will increase its overseas investment anyway, and will increase its defense budget regardless of whether Trump returns to power in the US. So, Tokyo suffers a little but gains a lot!

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/quan-he-my-nhat-luy-nho-duoc-lon-185250209231807315.htm