Shigeru Ishiba’s Summit meeting with Donald Trump: A Critical Test for Japan-US Relations
Dr. Anudeep Gujjeti
The first bilateral summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and the United States (US) President Donald Trump on February 7, 2025 took place amid complex geopolitical shifts and domestic vulnerabilities. From the moment Donald Trump secured a re-election, the Japanese leadership sought to arrange a swift meeting between Prime Minister Ishiba and the US president, aiming to reinforce Japan’s most crucial international partnership. For Tokyo, maintaining the trajectory set by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who cultivated a strong rapport with Trump was imperative to ensuring continuity in security, economic, and strategic cooperation between the two allies.
Unlike his predecessors, Ishiba faces an uphill battle at home. He leads a minority government with persistently low approval ratings, making his hold on power very fragile. A successful meeting with the US president was therefore more than a diplomatic necessity, it was an essential political manoeuvre for Ishiba. Securing Trump’s support believed to bolster Ishiba’s credibility, demonstrating that his administration remains a reliable partner in the Indo-Pacific and capable of navigating Japan’s economic and security challenges despite political challenges.
The summit focused on three important aspects from Ishiba’s point of view. First, Japan has been the top foreign investor in the US for five consecutive years, creating jobs. Ishiba aimed to secure a stable economic partnership, especially amid Trump’s threats of imposing reciprocal tariffs. Second, Ishiba sought a reaffirmed commitment from the US to Japan’s security partnership, particularly as China continues to adopt an aggressive posture in the region. Finally, securing these commitments was vital for Ishiba to improve his domestic standing at a time when his government’s ratings were at historic lows.
Security and Defence
At the security front Ishiba and Trump stressed that the alliance remains a cornerstone of peace as well as prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral security and defence cooperation under the “US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.” Both leaders confirmed that Article V of the US-Japan security treaty extends to the Senkaku Islands and expressed strong opposition to any attempts to challenge Japan’s administrative control over the territory. The US reiterated its steadfast commitment to Japan’s defence, emphasizing that its full range of military capabilities, including “nuclear deterrence,” would be employed if necessary. Japan at the same time reiterated its determination to enhance its defence capabilities, a move that was welcomed by the US.
Additionally, the summit reaffirmed the importance of implementing the realignment of US forces in Japan in line with the Okinawa Consolidation Plan. This includes advancing the construction of the Futenma Replacement Facility at Henoko and facilitating the return of “Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Futenma.” The discussions also highlighted the importance of expanding bilateral security cooperation in emerging domains such as cyberspace. Both countries agreed to leverage advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and secure cloud services, to enhance information sharing and cybersecurity measures. To ensure effective execution of these commitments, Ishiba and Trump directed their defence and foreign ministers to convene a “Security Consultative Committee (SCC “2+2”)” meeting as well.
Economic and Trade Cooperation
The economic discussions at the summit were cantered on deepening trade ties and reinforcing economic cooperation. Ishiba announced Japan’s plan to increase its investment in the US to $1 trillion, with a particular focus on bolstering the American manufacturing sector. He also outlined plans for increased investment by Japanese automakers and a significant expansion of liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports from the US. These commitments align with Trump’s broader economic strategy and reinforce the mutually beneficial nature of US-Japan trade relations.
Additionally, Trump confirmed that Nippon Steel would make substantial investments in US Steel’s Pennsylvania operations without assuming majority ownership, addressing previous concerns about foreign takeovers of American strategic industries. This move was a diplomatic breakthrough, considering that an earlier attempt by Nippon Steel to acquire US Steel had been blocked by the Biden administration due to national security concerns.
Trump’s trade policy rests on “reciprocal tariffs,” which aims to equalize tariff rates faced by American goods in foreign markets. The US has an average tariff of 3.3%, while Japan’s stands at 3.7%, meaning Japan will see only marginal adjustments under this policy. It remains to be seen how Trump would deal with such kind of situation.
Public sentiment following the summit reflected a positive reception. According to a Kyodo News poll, 50.1% of Japanese citizens viewed the meeting favourably, signalling a boost in Ishiba’s standing despite previous low approval ratings. The successful negotiation of economic and security agreements appears to have reassured both the Japanese public and business community, who were concerned about Trump’s trade policies and military commitments.
Nevertheless, the summit underscored the resilience of the Japan-US partnership but also exposed the complex interplay between alliance management and domestic political survival. Ishiba’s ability to present a balanced approach in dealing with Trump has been recognized as a key diplomatic win tough concerns still remain in place.
Dr. Anudeep Gujjeti is Assistant Professor at the Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies, REVA University, Bengaluru.
