"Former Japanese Prime Minister Aso to Meet Trump in New York"

Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is visiting New York, USA, is scheduled to hold talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the afternoon of the 23rd (local time), Kyodo News reported citing sources.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

According to the report, former President Trump is expected to meet with former Prime Minister Aso in the late afternoon after attending a criminal trial at a Manhattan court regarding allegations of hush money related to a sexual misconduct scandal.

It is analyzed that former Prime Minister Aso is pursuing this meeting with the aim of building relations, keeping in mind the possibility of Trump's victory in the upcoming U.S. presidential election in November. He also visited New York last January and attempted to contact former President Trump, but the meeting did not materialize due to the Republican primary schedule. At that time, he reportedly said, "It is important that the fact that I deliberately came all the way to New York reaches former President Trump's ears."

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, when asked about former Prime Minister Aso's schedule in the U.S. at a press conference that day, said, "I understand it is being conducted as a private individual," and added, "Since it is an activity in a personal capacity without government involvement, we will refrain from commenting." Former Prime Minister Aso served as Deputy Prime Minister during Shinzo Abe's administration and attended summit meetings with then-President Trump, even playing golf together.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who made a state visit to the U.S. earlier this month, held talks with President Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate seeking re-election, and worked on building relations.