Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election is likely to raise concerns that Japan will be pressured to pay even more of the cost of stationing U.S. military forces here.
That could strain bilateral relations at a time when Japan is pushing to bolster the security alliance through divisive legislation that permits the Self-Defense Forces to engage in collective defense, or coming to the rescue of allies under attack. The controversial legislative maneuvering has brought about a landmark shift in defense policy under the war-renouncing Constitution.
As Trump's victory became clear, Japanese officials quickly highlighted the importance of the alliance, which allows the United States to use military bases to contribute to the security of Japan and maintain peace and security in the Far East.