Japan's Ishiba Talks with Trump... "Early Summit and Strengthening US-Japan Alliance"

"Negotiating Meeting Schedule"

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced on the morning of the 7th that he had a phone call lasting about five minutes with former U.S. President and President-elect Donald Trump.

According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) and others, Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence that day, "We agreed to elevate the U.S.-Japan alliance to a higher level, a higher stage."

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba
[Photo by AP News]

He added, "During the phone call, we confirmed the intention to meet as soon as possible."

Prime Minister Ishiba said it was his first one-on-one conversation with President-elect Trump, stating, "In a word, I felt a very friendly impression. He seemed like a person who speaks sincerely without embellishment."

Regarding the schedule for a meeting with former President Trump, he said, "It is currently being coordinated," and added, "He said he is looking forward to meeting and talking, and I feel the same way."

He revealed that there was no discussion related to security. When asked about the revision of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement, which Ishiba has advocated since before taking office, he replied, "We did not discuss that during today's call." He continued, "In terms of strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance in the future, there are financial burdens, capability issues, and operational aspects to consider. I want to energetically discuss strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance from various perspectives, including not only costs but also equipment, operations, and integration."

He also said, "I sincerely expressed my respect for this victory and conveyed my congratulations," adding, "I said that former President Trump appealed to make America great again during his candidacy, and I respect the fact that this message gained the support of many American citizens."

Earlier, on the evening of the previous day, Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters at the Prime Minister's Official Residence, "I sincerely congratulate Trump on his victory and pay respect to the democratic choice of the American people," and added, "I want to work closely to further strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance." He also sent a congratulatory message to former President Trump and posted congratulations on his X (formerly Twitter) account.