U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Tokyo as part of his high-profile Asia tour aimed at striking trade deals, boosting American investment opportunities, and pressing allies for greater defense spending. His visit follows stops in Malaysia where he brokered a Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire and signed major trade and rare earth agreements and precedes a crucial summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this week.
The trip marks Trump’s longest foreign tour since taking office and comes amid efforts to cement U.S. influence in Asia and stabilize markets after months of trade tension.
Why It Matters:
The Tokyo stop is central to Trump’s goal of recalibrating U.S.-Japan relations securing a $550 billion investment pledge from Tokyo and pushing Japan to shoulder more of its defense costs amid China’s growing assertiveness.
For Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the country’s first female leader seeks to prove her diplomatic mettle early in her term by reinforcing Japan’s alliance with Washington and showing readiness to strengthen security cooperation.
The meeting could shape the tone of the upcoming Trump–Xi summit, where global markets and geopolitical watchers await signs of progress on trade.
Asian markets and investors are watching the visit closely. Analysts see it as a test of how much stability Trump’s diplomacy can bring before the U.S.–China talks.
“Tokyo wants to project unity and deterrence against coercion in the region,” said former U.S. diplomat Kevin Maher, adding that a strong joint statement on security would signal renewed U.S.-Japan coordination.
Security in Tokyo is tight, with thousands of police deployed and minor protests near the U.S. embassy.
What’s Next:
Trump’s first stop is an imperial audience with Emperor Naruhito, followed by official talks with Prime Minister Takaichi at Akasaka Palace, the same venue he met late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2019.
Discussions are expected to center on trade, energy purchases, and Japan’s accelerated defense buildup. Trump is then due to travel to South Korea for his long-awaited meeting with Xi Jinping a potential turning point for the global economy if a trade deal is finalized.
With information from Reuters.
