Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he wants to keep strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance with the incoming administration of Donald Trump, provided the two leaders share an awareness of the security situation in Asia.

In an exclusive interview with Kyodo News, Abe said Tuesday he wants to "affirm the significance of the Japan-U.S. alliance" in his next meeting with Trump, who will be inaugurated as the U.S. president Jan. 20.

"That's based on the premise that (both of us) have a mutual understanding of the current security environment," he added.