Japan’s prime minister departs for his first meeting with President Trump, where security and nuclear policy will be the focus of discussions
Feb. 7, 2025
by Shinya Hori and Fumiyasu Miyano, Staff Writers
On February 6, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba departed for the United States on a government plane from Haneda Airport for his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. One of the focal points of their meeting is security policy, which the prime minister calls his life’s work. How will Mr. Ishiba deal with President Trump, the leader of Japan’s ally, as China and North Korea build up their militaries? Will he mention the review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, a pet issue of his? What he will say and do about nuclear policy is another focus of attention.
Speaking to the press at the Prime Minister’s official residence before his departure, Mr. Ishiba said: “I would like to make efforts to establish a relationship of mutual trust. It would be good if we could confirm that Japan and the United States will cooperate on economic and security issues and work together for the development and peace of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the entire world.”
The meeting will take place in Washington, D.C., before dawn on February 8, Japan time. In addition to partnership on the economic front, such as in the semiconductor industry, security policy is the main topic of the meeting, diplomatic sources said.
Before becoming prime minister, Mr. Ishiba called for the review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which grants legal privileges to U.S. forces stationed in Japan. If the agreement is reexamined, the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni City, the largest U.S. air base in the Far East, will also be affected. However, he has been rather quiet lately about his pet opinion on security, including the establishment of an Asian North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Diet members of both the ruling and opposition parties are watching closely to see how deeply he will discuss it at the meeting.
Regarding nuclear policy, with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), there is a growing demand in Japan to participate as an observer in the third meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to be held in the United States in March. However, the prime minister is promoting adjustment not to take part, putting importance on nuclear deterrence with the “threat” of China and North Korea in mind. We cannot determine whether it will be up for discussion.
After assuming the presidency in January, Mr. Trump made statements indicating his willingness to engage in nuclear disarmament talks with China and Russia. During his previous term, however, it was conspicuous that his words and actions reversed nuclear disarmament, such as working on Japan not to join the TPNW and expressing the deployment of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) loaded with low-yield nuclear weapons for active service. This summit meeting could determine the future nuclear policies of the United States and Japan. Prime Minister Ishiba will return to Japan on February 8.
(Originally published on February 7, 2025)
On February 6, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba departed for the United States on a government plane from Haneda Airport for his first meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. One of the focal points of their meeting is security policy, which the prime minister calls his life’s work. How will Mr. Ishiba deal with President Trump, the leader of Japan’s ally, as China and North Korea build up their militaries? Will he mention the review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, a pet issue of his? What he will say and do about nuclear policy is another focus of attention.
Speaking to the press at the Prime Minister’s official residence before his departure, Mr. Ishiba said: “I would like to make efforts to establish a relationship of mutual trust. It would be good if we could confirm that Japan and the United States will cooperate on economic and security issues and work together for the development and peace of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and the entire world.”
The meeting will take place in Washington, D.C., before dawn on February 8, Japan time. In addition to partnership on the economic front, such as in the semiconductor industry, security policy is the main topic of the meeting, diplomatic sources said.
Before becoming prime minister, Mr. Ishiba called for the review of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which grants legal privileges to U.S. forces stationed in Japan. If the agreement is reexamined, the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni City, the largest U.S. air base in the Far East, will also be affected. However, he has been rather quiet lately about his pet opinion on security, including the establishment of an Asian North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Diet members of both the ruling and opposition parties are watching closely to see how deeply he will discuss it at the meeting.
Regarding nuclear policy, with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo), there is a growing demand in Japan to participate as an observer in the third meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) to be held in the United States in March. However, the prime minister is promoting adjustment not to take part, putting importance on nuclear deterrence with the “threat” of China and North Korea in mind. We cannot determine whether it will be up for discussion.
After assuming the presidency in January, Mr. Trump made statements indicating his willingness to engage in nuclear disarmament talks with China and Russia. During his previous term, however, it was conspicuous that his words and actions reversed nuclear disarmament, such as working on Japan not to join the TPNW and expressing the deployment of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) loaded with low-yield nuclear weapons for active service. This summit meeting could determine the future nuclear policies of the United States and Japan. Prime Minister Ishiba will return to Japan on February 8.
(Originally published on February 7, 2025)
