Abe hopes to stress security ties in Trump visit

November 4, 2017

TOKYO- US President Donald Trump is set to make his first presidential visit to Japan from Sunday, with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe keen to highlight security ties between the two allies amid tensions over North Korea. At their summit on Monday, the two leaders are slated to confirm close cooperation to step up pressure on North Korea, which has continued nuclear and missile development despite protests from the international community.

They are expected to agree that Japan and the United States will take the initiative to fully implement UN Security Council sanctions resolutions against North Korea and enhance solidarity in the international community, including China and Russia, in order to increase pressure on the reclusive country.

The summit will also cover a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy to ensure stability and growth in the region, with the aim of holding in check China's Belt and Road Initiative across Eurasia.

Whether and how Trump will mention his country's trade deficit with Japan will be a focal point, given his "America first" agenda.

Meanwhile, the president may refer to possible bilateral free trade negotiations after he pulled his country out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership regional free trade deal early this year.

Japan is working with other remaining TPP members to launch a new pact without the United States while hoping that Washington will come back to the framework in the future. Jiji Press

TOKYO- Japanese fans of Ivanka Trump, Advisor to US President Donald J. Trump, and President Trump, housewives Sanae Hasegawa (L), 52, from Tokorozawa and Makiko Suzuki (R), 66, from Shizuoka, hold placards as they wait for Ivanka's arrival outside restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, 03 November 2017. Trump will start his asian tour from Japan on 05 November 2017 as first leg of the tour. Japanese characters in the center reads 'Support Prime Minister Abe'. Jiji Press