US President Donald Trump has arrived in Japan, marking the second stop of his six-day Asia tour. During his three-day visit, Trump will meet with Emperor Naruhito, hold talks with Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, and make a speech on the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. The visit is expected to focus on strengthening economic and defense ties between the two nations. Trump has expressed his desire for Japan to import more American products, including rice, cars, and particularly “very beautiful” Ford F-150 pickup trucks, which he described as a “hot truck”. Japan might buy 100 of these trucks for road and dam inspections, and display some outside the state guesthouse when Trump visits.
The two leaders will also discuss Japan’s defense spending, with Trump urging Tokyo to contribute more to regional security. Japan has already announced plans to spend two percent of its gross domestic product on defense this fiscal year, two years earlier than planned. However, US officials want Japan to spend even more, potentially matching the five percent of GDP pledged by NATO members. Additionally, Trump will sign deals on critical minerals and shipbuilding, and may even be gifted some gold-plated golf balls, media reports said. The visit is seen as an opportunity for Takaichi to outline her regional security goals before Trump’s summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
