Trump Asks Ishiba During Call, "Are You Interested in Buying American Fighter Jets?"

Multiple Japanese Media Outlets Including Asahi Report
Trump Emphasizes Fighter Jet Capabilities to Ishiba
Security Pressure Analyzed... Area Excluded from Tariff Negotiations

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, mentioned American fighter jets such as the F-47 and F-22 during a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the 23rd, according to a report by the Asahi Shimbun on the 24th, which cited multiple Japanese government officials.

Donald Trump US President

According to media reports, President Trump brought up American fighter jets and emphasized their capabilities to Prime Minister Ishiba while explaining that he had conducted arms deals during his Middle East tour in mid-May.

It is reported that President Trump asked whether Japan was interested in purchasing American fighter jets. After the call, Prime Minister Ishiba told reporters that President Trump had explained his Middle East tour, but did not mention any reference to American fighter jets.

Both the F-47 and F-22 are American-made fighter jets. The F-47 is expected to be a sixth-generation fighter jet that will succeed fifth-generation jets like the F-22, and could be deployed as early as the mid-2030s. In March, President Trump named the next-generation fighter jet the 'F-47,' a designation reportedly derived from the fact that he is the 47th President of the United States.

It appears that President Trump mentioned the fighter jets with the intention of putting security-related pressure on Japan amid ongoing US-Japan tariff negotiations. The two countries are not discussing security issues, such as the cost of stationing US forces in Japan, during the tariff talks. During the first round of tariff negotiations, President Trump openly expressed dissatisfaction regarding Japan's defense spending, pointing out to Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's Minister for Economic Revitalization, who visited the White House, that Japan's share of the US forces' stationing costs was too low. In connection with this, the Asahi Shimbun reported that during the trade negotiations with the Trump administration's first term, the Shinzo Abe government decided to purchase 105 F-35 fighter jets.

Previously, in February, Prime Minister Ishiba reportedly conveyed his intention to purchase the US C-17 transport aircraft during a summit with President Trump at the White House.