The foreign ministers of the United States and Japan met in Washington a day after Donald Trump's inauguration as U.S. president. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya expressed their commitment to elevate their bilateral alliance "to new heights."
During the meeting, they agreed to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance. They also exchanged views on economic issues, security concerning North Korea, including nuclear and missile programs, as well as challenges related to China.
Minister Iwaya provided more details about the topics discussed with his U.S. counterpart, asking the United States to help alleviate concerns of Japanese companies about investing in U.S. soil. The litigation regarding Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, blocked by former President Joe Biden, was mentioned, although it was not confirmed whether this issue was specifically addressed during the meeting.
The Japanese foreign minister is the first to attend the inauguration of a U.S. president in person, a role typically fulfilled by ambassadors. This invitation from the new Administration is seen as a gesture highlighting the importance Washington places on its alliance with Japan.
Takeshi Iwaya is taking advantage of his visit to the United States, scheduled until the 23rd, to coordinate a possible summit between President Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, which could take place in the first half of February on U.S. territory.
