Japan's Recently Appointed Prime Minister Aims to Utilize Shinzo Abe's Legacy in Important Discussions with Donald Trump.

The nation's newly elected leader, Sanae Takaichi, is set to face her first major diplomatic challenge as she engages with former US President Trump for high-stakes negotiations in Tokyo.

Attention of their summit is expected to revolve around economic and security topics, signaling a key moment for Japan's relationship with its powerful partner.

A Historic Premiership and Global Introduction

The new PM, who just became Japan's initial woman leader after securing the leadership of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, had her global introduction at the recent Asean summit.

However, her forthcoming meeting with the former president is seen as the real challenge that will set the tone for coming two-way relations.

Navigating Domestic and Global Challenges

Takaichi faces a possibly shaky government landscape, having established a partnership that leaves her two seats short of a majority in the powerful chamber of the Diet.

This means, her government will depend on opposition lawmakers to approve laws, introducing a element of difficulty to her governance.

Shared Perspectives and Differing Interests

She holds Trump's wariness of China's defense presence in the region, yet both countries have faced challenges from his "America-first" trade policies.

Lately, Trump facilitated a truce deal between Thai and Cambodian authorities during the first leg of his Asia visit.

Defense Expansion and Budget Commitments

The leader has expressed her determination to speed up Japan's defense expansion, planning to increase military expenditure to two percent of gross domestic product by the close of the fiscal year.

This move aligns with a long-held demand from Trump and represents the biggest military expansion for Japan since the WWII.

Security Cooperation and Tensions

Japan has also moved to obtain "retaliatory" abilities, including Tomahawk weapons from the United States, and plans to deploy domestically developed extended-range systems.

But, the bilateral security treaty is still a source of strain, with Trump previously stating that Japan should pay more for hosting American forces on its soil.

Economic Outlook and Talks

Not many expect significant agreements on trade issues during the visit, particularly after latest duty changes offered a degree of ease to Japan's export sector.

The PM is expected to seek further benefits by promising greater acquisitions of US goods, including vehicles, soybeans, and natural gas.

Individual Rapport and the Abe Link

The importance the former president attributes to personal rapport could work in the PM's favor, given her close relationship with assassinated former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was one of Trump's preferred international figures.

He was the initial international leader to visit Trump after his election, and the pair built a close bond over mutual interests such as golf.

Upcoming Schedule and Regional Implications

The former president's visit to Japan will begin with a meeting with the Emperor at the royal residence in Tokyo.

It will be succeeded by discussions with the PM at the official residence, the very venue where Trump held talks with Abe in 2019.

Subsequently, Trump will travel to the Republic of Korea for the APEC meeting, where he is set to meet China's leader Xi.