"Biden's First In-Person Summit Partner is Japan's Suga"

Axios Reports White House Plans April US-Japan Summit
US President Consistently Chooses Japan as First Summit Partner
Suga, 'Light of Hope' Amid Declining Power Base

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Reports have emerged that Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan, will be the first leader to hold a summit at the White House following President Joe Biden's inauguration.

The U.S. internet media Axios reported on the 7th (local time), citing sources, that the two leaders are scheduled to hold a summit at the White House around April. If realized, this will be President Biden's first face-to-face summit.

Axios noted that although the White House has not confirmed the meeting, the Biden administration, which emphasizes an anti-China alliance, has chosen Japan as its first summit partner to signal that the U.S.-Japan alliance will be the core of the Pacific security system.

Axios also analyzed that this summit could appear as U.S. support for Prime Minister Suga, whose domestic support base is rapidly weakening.

The U.S. and Japan are planning visits next week by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. It seems highly likely that discussions for the summit will take place during their visit to Japan.

The Japanese prime minister has traditionally been the first to receive a courtesy call upon a change of U.S. president.

Former President Barack Obama held his first summit after inauguration with former Japanese Prime Minister Tar? As?. Former President Donald Trump met with former Japanese Prime Minister Shinz? Abe at his New York residence during his president-elect period. Abe later became the first foreign leader invited to Mar-a-Lago, the resort owned by former President Trump.