1 Year after Trump’s Return, Japan Struggles to Solidify Ties with U.S.

Tokyo, Jan. 20 (Jiji Press)–With Tuesday marking one year since U.S. President Donald Trump began his second term, Japan faces a challenge of consolidating its relationship with the United States amid concerns over Trump’s diplomatic approach. Before the inauguration of his first administration in January 2017, Trump repeatedly criticized Japan, prompting Tokyo to work desperately on stabilizing its ties with Washington. After the January 2025 launch of the second Trump administration, Japan managed to conclude its tariff negotiations with the United States under its then prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba. Current Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi looks set to make full efforts to maintain her country’s alliance with the United States at a time when Trump is apparently starting to adopt a conciliatory attitude to Beijing. “I will make 2026 a year that opens up a new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Takaichi told reporters after holding a telephone conversation with Trump on Jan. 2. Japan, however, has been at the mercy of Trump over the past year. Last April, the Trump administration announced that it would impose 24 pct “reciprocal” tariffs on Japan. Then Prime Minister Ishiba moved to pursue a “deal” with Trump to minimize damage to the Japanese economy. In July, the two sides concluded their tariff negotiations, with the U.S. side agreeing to lower the reciprocal tariffs to 15 pct in exchange for Japan’s pledge of 550 billion dollars in investments in and loans to the United States. Still, full-scale negotiations on details of the pledged investments and loans have yet to begin. Shortly after her inauguration on Oct. 21 last year, Takaichi welcomed Trump to Japan and quickly established a rapport, including through a ride on a presidential helicopter. Even so, discord has emerged since Japan-China relations cooled following Takaichi’s parliamentary remarks last November on a possible Taiwan contingency. Japan is concerned that Trump has opted not to side with either Japan or China while Beijing has stepped up its criticism of Japan over remarks by Takaichi, claiming that the country is reviving its militarism. Some believe that Trump, who is expected to visit China in April, is taking a conciliatory approach on Beijing to reach a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine,” which puts emphasis on the Western Hemisphere, including the Americas, is also a source of concern to Japan. He has begun to add substance to this doctrine by, for example, taking military action against Venezuela and removing its president, Nicolas Maduro, raising concerns that his engagement with Asia in the Eastern Hemisphere may weaken. If Japan’s ruling bloc, led by Takaichi’s Liberal Democratic Party, wins the House of Representatives general election, set for Feb. 8, the prime minster plans to visit the United States as early as March to coordinate strategies on China with Trump. A senior official of Japan’s Foreign Ministry said that Takaichi is expected to “patiently tell President Trump that cooperating with allies and like-minded countries is in the national interest of the United States.” With the new U.S. National Security Strategy, released last year, demanding that Japan increase its defense spending, however, there is a risk that Takaichi’s U.S. visit may create a new source of headache for Tokyo. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]