Priorities of the Foreign Policy of Donald Trump’s Administration in Relations with Japan

The article examines the evolution and prospects of Japan-US relations amid political transitions in both countries. It focuses on two key periods: Donald Trump’s presidency (2017–2021) and recent developments under Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The study explores core aspects of bilateral ties, including economic cooperation, military-strategic partnership, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. The second section evaluates the Biden- Kishida era, noting continuity in economic pragmatism and deepened military cooperation. However, the 2024 leadership changes—Trump’s return and Shigeru Ishiba’s rise in Japan—introduced new uncertainties. The article highlights risks for The first section analyzes the Trump administration’s policies, marked by the US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and stricter trade terms for Japan, particularly in the automotive sector. Despite these challenges, Japan sought to preserve the alliance by boosting investments in the US economy and enhancing defense collaboration. Simultaneously, Tokyo diversified its foreign policy by strengthening dialogue with China, Russia, and India. Japan, such as potential US tariff escalations, alongside opportunities for closer defense ties, including debates over revising Japan’s pacifist Article 9. The conclusion forecasts two scenarios: either maintaining an asymmetric partnership favoring the US or Japan diversifying its regional alliances to counter Washington’s isolationist tendencies. Nonetheless, a complete cutoff of bilateral relations with the US is deemed unlikely due to Japan’s entrenched economic and security dependencies.

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