US-Japan relations: Small losses, big gains.

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, Trump hosted then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his private residence.

Mr. Ishiba does not currently have the close personal relationship with Mr. Trump that Mr. Abe did, so he does not have the same 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 security challenges and threats from North Korea. Washington needs Tokyo as a strategic military ally, while Tokyo needs Washington as a support and security guarantee.

Therefore, Mr. Ishiba had a great and urgent need to win over Mr. Trump personally and avoid trade conflicts between the two countries, especially since the new White House occupant intended to use tariffs as a tool to achieve his goals and interests in relations with external partners. If Mr. Trump wanted Japan to overcome its trade surplus with the US, Mr. Ishiba declared that Japan would import more US oil and gas. If Mr. Trump wanted to protect US manufacturing, Mr. Ishiba pledged to increase investment in the US. And Mr. Ishiba pleased Mr. Trump by proactively increasing the defense budget.

This dependence isn't actually that big of a deal for Tokyo, because Japan will import more natural gas and oil anyway, increase overseas investment anyway, and prioritize increasing its defense budget regardless of whether Trump returns to power in the US or not. Therefore, Tokyo's dependence is small, but the benefits are significant!

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