Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is currently the vice president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, met with Donald Trump at Trump Tower in Manhattan. They discussed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the challenges posed by China and North Korea. Trump also praised Japan’s increased defense spending during the meeting. Aso is a highly respected figure in Japan and has decades of experience in shaping U.S.-Japan ties. Japan has been trying to establish connections with people close to Trump ahead of the U.S. presidential election, in order to address concerns about potential impacts on the Japanese economy and defense ties with the United States if Trump were to win.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized the historic slide of the yen against the dollar, calling it a “total disaster” for the United States. He claimed that during his presidency, he had warned Japan and China about this issue in order to protect American manufacturers. The yen has been trading at a 34-year-low against the dollar, prompting concerns from Japanese authorities and markets. Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki issued a warning about potential intervention in the market to prevent excessive movements of the yen. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa clarified that Aso’s visit to the U.S. was a personal activity and not associated with the government.
The meeting between Trump and Aso comes after U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects aimed at strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. This meeting is part of the ongoing efforts by foreign countries to strengthen ties with Trump in anticipation of a close election rematch between him and Biden. Aso’s visit to the U.S. was focused on discussing the U.S.-Japan alliance and addressing concerns about potential policies that could impact Japan’s economy and defense relations with the United States under a Trump administration.
The meeting between Trump and Aso highlighted the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance for security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as the ongoing challenges posed by China and North Korea. Trump’s praise for Japan’s increased defense spending reflects a positive view of Japan’s commitment to security in the region. The criticism of the yen’s slide against the dollar and the potential for intervention by Japanese authorities underscore the economic concerns stemming from currency fluctuations. Overall, the meeting between Aso and Trump was part of Japan’s efforts to establish connections with key figures in the U.S. ahead of the presidential election, in order to address potential impacts on the U.S.-Japan alliance and economic relations.
