Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is considering a visit to the United States to meet with the president-elect before January’s inauguration, according to an interview with The Yomiuri Shimbun on Saturday. Ishiba is already scheduled to attend summits in Latin America in mid-November, but when asked if he plans to visit the US before or after these meetings, he responded that he would not deny the possibility. As Japan’s prime minister and an ally of the United States, Ishiba believes it is important for him to establish a rapport with the incoming president in order to strengthen and stabilize the Japan-US alliance. If his plan comes to fruition, this will be his first visit to the US since taking office.
In 2016, shortly after Donald Trump was elected as president of the United States, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited him in New York. This meeting made Abe the first foreign leader to meet with President-elect Trump and helped foster a close relationship between them.
During his interview, Ishiba also expressed his willingness to revise the Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement which governs legal matters concerning US military personnel stationed in Japan. However, he did not provide a specific timeline for when this revision might occur as he acknowledged how challenging it can be. “I think I know more than anyone else how difficult it is,” said Ishiba when asked about a potential date for revising the agreement.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s potential visit to meet with President-elect will serve as an opportunity for both leaders to establish a strong foundation for their future collaboration and reinforce bilateral relations between Japan and the United States.