Prime Minister Fumio Kishida used his final official news conference of 2021 to outline his goal of making 2022 “a year of actively promoting summit diplomacy.” But whether he'll be able to follow through on an ambitious foreign policy and defense goals remains unclear, as the omicron coronavirus variant threatens a jam-packed agenda.
Kishida, who has gotten off to a quick start in his push to bolster U.S.-Japan relations, will be looking to further boost the alliance, which he has called “the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy and security.” His first order of business will be securing a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington.
But the prime minister, whose ruling Liberal Democratic Party gained a strong mandate in October's Lower House, will have to balance his desire to strengthen the U.S. alliance with Tokyo’s ties with China — its top trading partner and Washington's strategic rival.