WASHINGTON (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had a long meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump. The goal of the summit was to build a personal understanding between the United States and Japan on security and trade, while at the same time overcoming the Tycoon’s concerns about being taken advantage of by allies.
Ishiba was the second foreign leader to meet with Trump at the White House since the start of his second term after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit last Monday. Japan’s goal is to strengthen its alliance with the new administration at a historic time when the escalation of a trade war threatens to blow up the global economy.
During the meeting, the two leaders covered important topics such as military training exercises, energy, foreign investment and business opportunities dictated by cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
“Japan is one of our most important partners on security,” Trump said during the joint press conference with the Japanese prime minister. “Our service members work together every day to defend our common interests. Japan is committed to doubling its defense spending by 2027, and in addition to being vital to our security, it is a major buyer of U.S. military exports and equipment, and I am pleased to say that this week my administration approved nearly $1 billion in foreign military sales to Tokyo. In the years ahead, the prime minister and I will work closely together to maintain peace and security throughout the Indo-Pacific.”
During his speech, Trump also said he would work with Japan to reduce the U.S. trade deficit, which currently stands at about $68 billion. The president also stressed the need to confront China’s economy in technology with Japan’s support: “Today we discussed ways in which our two nations can do even more to establish the cutting edge of artificial intelligence, along with quantum technology, computing, semiconductors and other critical technologies. We agreed to work even more closely together to combat Chinese economic aggression. As we deepen our economic relations, I can make it clear that the United States will conduct trade with all countries based on the principle of fairness and reciprocity. With Japan we have a trade deficit of one hundred billion dollars, but we will solve the problem very quickly. America welcomes new foreign investment, and we also want to ensure that companies build their products and factories in the United States and not simply with the resources we have.”
During the conference Trump said that starting next week he will announce new tariffs against other countries to ensure “equal treatment.”
– Photo: Ipa Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
