đź”— Share this article The Recently Appointed Prime Minister Seeks to Benefit from Abe's Connection in Important Discussions with Donald Trump. Japan's newly elected leader, Sanae Takaichi, is set to face her primary foreign policy examination as she engages with ex-President Donald Trump for high-stakes negotiations in the Japanese capital. The focus of their encounter is expected to revolve around trade and defense topics, marking a key moment for Japan's ties with its powerful partner. The Historic Leadership and Global Debut Takaichi, who recently became Japan's first female leader after winning the top position of the ruling LDP, made her international debut at the latest Asean summit. However, her forthcoming talks with Trump is considered the true challenge that will establish the direction for future two-way cooperation. Navigating Internal and International Pressures Takaichi faces a possibly unstable political landscape, having established a partnership that puts her a couple of votes away of a controlling number in the powerful chamber of parliament. Consequently, her administration will depend on other lawmakers to approve laws, introducing a layer of complexity to her governance. Shared Views and Diverging Interests She holds the former president's wariness of Chinese military activities in the Asia-Pacific, but both countries have faced challenges from his "US-first" trade approach. Recently, the former president oversaw a truce deal between Thailand and Cambodia authorities during the initial leg of his Asian tour. Military Expansion and Spending Pledges Takaichi has stated her determination to speed up Japan's defense build-up, aiming to raise defense expenditure to 2% of gross domestic product by the close of the fiscal year. This step aligns with a longstanding demand from Trump and signifies the biggest military buildup for Japan since the Second World War. Security Cooperation and Tensions The country has also taken steps to obtain "counterstrike" capabilities, including cruise missiles from the United States, and plans to deploy locally made longer-range missiles. However, the bilateral security agreement is still a point of tension, with Trump previously suggesting that the nation should pay more for hosting American troops on its soil. Economic Expectations and Negotiations Not many anticipate major agreements on trade issues this week, especially after recent tariff adjustments provided a degree of relief to the country's export sector. Takaichi is likely to pursue additional benefits by promising increased purchases of US products, including vehicles, soybeans, and natural gas. Individual Rapport and the Abe Connection The value Trump places on personal rapport could work in the PM's advantage, given her strong ties with the late ex-leader Abe, who was one of his preferred world leaders. He was the first international leader to visit the then president-elect after his victory, and the pair built a close bond over mutual activities such as golf. Upcoming Agenda and Regional Implications The former president's visit to the country will start with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. It will be succeeded by talks with the PM at the state guest house, the same venue where he held talks with Abe in 2019. Subsequently, the former president will travel to the Republic of Korea for the Apec meeting, where he is scheduled to meet Chinese president Xi.