Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump held their first telephone talks on Thursday, following the Republican's stunning victory over Democratic rival Kamala Harris, as the Japanese leader looks to build up a relationship with Trump before he officially takes office in January.
The call lasted about five minutes, with Ishiba telling reporters he had congratulated the incoming leader on his victory and the two allied leaders agreeing to meet soon to “elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance to an even higher level.”
"This was my first one-on-one conversation with him, but it felt friendly. I had the impression that we could speak openly and candidly,” Ishiba said, adding that the meeting concluded with both parties saying that they looked forward to “doing good work together.”
Ishiba plans to travel to South America next week to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, which is being held in Peru from Nov. 10 to 16, and the Group of 20 summit scheduled for Nov. 18 and 19 in Rio de Janeiro, where he could meet with top U.S. and Chinese officials.
He is also coordinating for a possible stop in the U.S. to meet with Trump.
Ishiba did not mention whether they had discussed some of the contentious security proposals he has broached, including a revision of the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) that governs the U.S. troops presence in Japan and the creation of an "Asian NATO."
But speaking to reporters, the prime minister did stress that managing and building up the alliance involves financial concerns and operational issues. Ishiba also expressed his eagerness to discuss issues such as equipment and logistics with Trump.
In the absence of a clear "Trump whisperer" following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan has dispatched feelers — including former Prime Minister Taro Aso — to gauge Trump’s views on the U.S. ally amid concerns over his unorthodox foreign and economic policies and his disdain for alliances.
Separately, former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, now leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) — the largest opposition force in parliament — told a news conference in Tokyo the same day that the leader of Japan must put a priority on building a personal relationship with Trump.
Parliament will hold a special session on Monday, where Ishiba is expected to be re-elected prime minister following the ruling bloc’s poor showing in last month’s general election.
"I am concerned that the emphasis on 'America First' carries a high possibility of leading to a retreat from international commitments," Noda said of Trump’s slogan, which has raised concerns of American isolationism.
The CDP leader lamented how U.S. leaders’ focus on Asia has appeared to dwindle following Trump’s 2016 election, with Trump missing key regional summits and his successor, President Joe Biden, only attending a handful of forums.
"I believe that, especially given the tense security environment in Asia, Japan must promote and take a stronger lead in ensuring that Trump remains committed to this region," Noda said.
Amid concerns that Trump could demand that Japan bear a greater share of defense costs and base burdens, Noda said Tokyo must clearly explain its position on the issue and better assert itself on proposals such as SOFA revisions.
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