The Japanese Prime Minister will seek to maintain the status quo at the summit with Trump

While the Prime Minister in Japan is preparing for his first meeting with President Trump, he hopes to take a personal relationship with the leader of the superpower on which his country relies on economically and military. But in Trump’s White House, even a meeting and risky ponds may be.

The summit between Mr. Trump and the Japanese Prime Minister, Chijo Ishiba, scheduled for Friday, is the result of months of efforts behind the sky, the richest investor of the country and the widow of the former Prime Minister who was assassinated.

When he arrives at the White House, Mr. Ishiba will probably seek to secure that Mr. Trump will not target Japan in a commercial war or abandon -North Korea.

On the other hand, the Japanese Prime Minister is expected to come with concessions that could include promises to buy more US weapons or energy, and invest in UK’s artificial intelligence And exchange more defense burden in the Asia Pacific region.

“This summit will be the moment of the truth,” said Narushiji Mishichita, a professor of security affairs at the National Institute for Political Studies in Tokyo. “Does Mr. Trump look at Japan as an indispensable partner in the Asia Pacific region, or are we just an other counterpart through the bargaining table?”

So far, the name of Japan has not appeared when Mr. Trump threatened Identification of definitions On many American allies and other commercial partners. The two leaders seemed to start a good start when Mr. Ishiba called Mr. Trump in November to congratulate him on his victory in the elections.

“It was the first time I talked to him, but he seemed friendly,” Mr. Ishiba told reporters. “I have the impression that it was someone I could talk to him frankly.”

However, former diplomats say that the American Mechanical President’s demand to monitor the current situation will be a long thing. These first days are still in a head of transactions to show the results of his supporters.

“Ishiba is risking,” said Galin Fukushima, an older colleague at the American Progress Center, who was an American commercial diplomat. “The more time he spends with Trump, Trump’s chance of new demands increases.”

Then there is a possibility of what some analysts are now “the surprise of Gaza”, referring to the summit this week between Mr. Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from Israel, when the American President blinded the world A suggestion of acquisition on the Palestinian territories.

Before the Japanese American Summit, Mr. Ishiba prepared by collecting an unofficial “Trump Strategy Council” for senior officials from all over his government, who clarified the potential demands that the president might require and how Japan should respond, According to the Japanese media.

Mr. Ishiba also tried to learn from one of his predecessors, Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister Which was shot and killed in 2022 After leaving the office. Mr. Abe used face -to -face meetings Building a relationship with Mr. Trump During the first Trump administration.

One of the strategies of Mr. Abe was the audience. When he became the first global leader to meet with the newly -national team in 2016 at Trump Tower, Mr. Abe presented his host with gold -plated golf club. At a top after three years, Mr. Abe brought a greater gift: Waad Buy 105 American F-35 aircraft With a value of billions of dollars.

On Monday, Mr. Ishiba said he intends to speak with Mr. Trump about the common development of artificial intelligence. He made comments after meeting with Sam Altman from Openai and Masayoshi Son, a Japanese technical investor standing in December next to Mr. Trump to pledge $ 100 billion in investments to create 100,000 jobs In the United States.

Mr. Ishiba is also expected to confirm the main increases in security spending, which may lead to additional US weapons purchases. Japan plans to expand its defensive budget by 65 percent in the five years ending in 2027.

However, the efforts of Mr. Ishiba to follow the Playbook for Mr. Abe have not always been going well. After the re -election of Mr. Trump last year, Mr. Ishiba tried to meet him, just to be rejected on the basis that the elected president was not meeting with world leaders immediately.

Japan turned into the widow of Mr. Abe, Aki Abe, who attended the opening ceremony for Mr. Trump as a guest of the first lady, Melania Trump. Mr. Trump referred to the personal tie with the deceased, Mr. Abe, when mentioning the upcoming summit with Mr. Ishiba.

“Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was a very intimate friend of me,” Mr. Trump told reporters last Friday. “What happened to him was very sad, one of the most sad things that happened at all, but they are coming to talk to me, so I am looking forward to that.”

There were fears that Mr. Ishiba would not be able to repeat Mr. Abe’s personal chemistry with Mr. Trump. While Mr. Abe was a thirsty golf player Played with Mr. Trump In a club in Japan, Mr. Ishiba prefers interests such as building plastic models.

Kiuko Notoiaa and Hisako Ueno The reports contributed.