Japan’s PM meets Trump to strengthen bond of trust

Japan’s PM meets Trump to strengthen bond of trust

The first in-person leader meeting for Trump after winning US elections last week.

The Dollar Business Bureau

US President-elect Donald Trump and the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe had a candid discussion on the lines of their in-person meting which has been termed as casual briefing between the two leaders to strengthen the bond of trust.

The details of the meeting have not been revealed due to its informal nature as Trump is yet to assume presidency yet. But Abe did highlight the fact that Japan will be able to maintain a “relationship of trust” after Trump becomes the President of the United States.

It was the first in-person meeting of Trump with a foreign leader after winning the US Presidential elections last week.

Trump has always been of the view that Japan should bear more monetary burden of the military forces deployed in the region by the United States.

As per reports, the meeting didn’t touch the topic of defense or the disagreement between the two nations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. However, the discussion did end up making Abe confident about the leadership skills of Trump and seeing him ahead of other world leaders.  

Abe was also keen to know the actual policy changes that come into place after Trump becomes the President. He was was specifically referring to the suggestion made to the President-elect to withdraw US troops from the region.

The informal meeting between the two leaders was an expected phenomenon considering the Japan-related remarks made by Trump during his election campaign. He had said that Japan should obtain nuclear weapons to protect itself from North Korea. Abe had said during the same time that the Japan-US alliance will remain the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy irrespective of whoever becomes the President of the largest economy of the world.

The Dollar Business Bureau - Nov 18, 2016 12:00 IST