The Recently Appointed Prime Minister Seeks to Leverage Abe's Legacy in Important Negotiations with Donald Trump.

Japan's freshly appointed prime minister, Takaichi, is preparing to confront her initial significant foreign policy examination as she sits down with ex-President Donald Trump for important negotiations in Tokyo.

The focus of their summit is likely to revolve around economic and security issues, marking a critical juncture for Tokyo's relationship with its influential ally.

The Notable Premiership and Global Debut

The new PM, who recently became Japan's first female prime minister after securing the top position of the ruling LDP, made her international debut at the latest ASEAN summit.

But, her upcoming talks with Trump is seen as the true challenge that will establish the direction for future two-way relations.

Managing Domestic and Global Challenges

The prime minister deals with a potentially unstable political landscape, having formed a partnership that puts her a couple of votes short of a controlling number in the influential chamber of parliament.

This means, her administration will depend on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation, adding a layer of difficulty to her leadership.

Common Views and Diverging Policies

She shares Trump's wariness of China's defense presence in the Asia-Pacific, but both nations have faced issues from his "America-first" economic policies.

Lately, Trump facilitated a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia authorities during the first leg of his Asia tour.

Military Expansion and Budget Pledges

The leader has expressed her determination to speed up Japan's defense build-up, planning to raise military expenditure to 2% of GDP by the close of the fiscal year.

This move matches a long-held demand from Trump and signifies the biggest military buildup for Japan since the Second World War.

Defense Cooperation and Strains

The country has also taken steps to acquire "counterstrike" abilities, including cruise weapons from the US, and intends to deploy domestically developed extended-range missiles.

But, the two-way security agreement is still a point of strain, with Trump previously suggesting that the nation should contribute more for stationing US troops on its soil.

Economic Outlook and Negotiations

Few expect major concessions on economic issues during the visit, especially after latest duty adjustments provided some relief to the country's export sector.

Takaichi is expected to seek further relief by promising increased purchases of American products, including vehicles, agricultural produce, and natural gas.

Individual Rapport and the Abe Link

The value Trump attributes to personal rapport could benefit Takaichi's advantage, given her close ties with assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was among Trump's favorite world leaders.

He was the first foreign figure to meet the then president-elect after his victory, and the two developed a strong bond over shared activities such as the sport.

Upcoming Schedule and Regional Significance

Trump's trip to Japan will start with a audience with Emperor Naruhito at the royal residence in the capital.

It will be followed by talks with the PM at the official residence, the same venue where he held talks with Abe in 2019.

Subsequently, Trump will proceed to the Republic of Korea for the APEC summit, where he is set to meet China's president Xi Jinping.