Donald Trump Should Go to Japan | The National Interest – The National Interest Online
Since November 2016, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has visited the United States on three separate occasions. The first visit occurred in November, shortly after President-elect Trumps electoral victory. After meeting with Mr. Trump at his residence at Trump Tower, Abe stated: Alliances cannot function without trust. I am now confident that president-elect Trump is a trustworthy leader.
The second visit occurred in December 2016, when Prime Minister Abe joined President Barack Obama in a ceremony at Pearl Harbor. After offering heartfelt condolences to those killed in the attack seventy-five years earlier, Abe stated: We are allies that will tackle together, to an even greater degree than ever before, the many challenges covering the globe. He characterized the U.S.-Japan alliance as an alliance of hope.
Abes third visit to the United States occurred in February 2017, and included a visit to President Trumps Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. At a news conference held at the White House, Prime Minister Abe stated that the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in [the] Asia-Pacificis the strong Japan-U.S. alliance. He further stated that he and President Trump will work together to further strengthen our alliance.
It is not a coincidence that such high-level visits from Japan are occurring at this time. Japan is experiencing a tense and deteriorating security environment, driven by what it perceives to be dangerous power shifts occurring in Asia and around the world.
First, Japan is confronting an increasingly aggressive North Korea that poses a well-known regionaland potentially globalthreat with its expanding nuclear weapon and ballistic missile arsenals. During Abes visit to Florida, North Korea test-fired a ballistic missile which landed in waters near Japan. About three weeks later, North Korea fired four ballistic missiles, three of which landed in Japans Exclusive Economic Zone.
The second challenge involves Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the East China Sea. Bolstered by its 2013 declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone over disputed maritime areas, China has attempted to unilaterally change the status quo vis--vis the disputed Senkaku Islands (known in Chinese as Diaoyu). According to Japans Ministry of Defense, Chinese air intrusions have helped spur some of the highest levels of Japanese jet fighter scrambles since the Cold War.
The third challenge is Russias increasingly assertive activities in maritime areas and the airspace surrounding Japan. Recently, Russia announced plans to increase its military presence on certain Kuril Islands, which are also claimed by Japan.
Simply stated, Japan lives in a dangerous neighborhood and depends heavily on the security guarantees provided by the United States to mitigate these threats. In his foreword to the annual Defense of Japan white paper, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani stated that the Japan-U.S. Alliance is the centerpiece of Japans security and plays a critical role as the cornerstone of the peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.
This is why the February visit of Secretary of Defense James Mattis was so significant. In a dialogue with Prime Minister Abe, Mattis stated that the United States stood 100 percent shoulder-to-shoulder with [Japan]. However, Mattis also made a point of emphasizing the benefits that the U.S. gains from the alliance. From a strategic perspective, the United States arguably gains three key advantages from its alliance with Japan.
The first is geography. Japan allows U.S. forces to be deployed in a part of the world where tyranny of distance can constrain reaction times and effectiveness. Japan hosts about fifty thousand U.S. troops, who are given access to eighty-nine facilities across the country (about half of U.S. personnel in Japan are based in Okinawa). Japan pays roughly $2 billion annually to host these U.S. forces. The net benefit for the United States is forward presence, which gives the United States the ability to reach potential Asian-based trouble spots in a timely and efficient manner.
The second advantage is rising partner capacity. In the past, some U.S. officials have criticized Japans aversion, partially attributable to Article 9 of its constitution, to deploy forces far from Japan or to engage in combat missions. In recent years, due to a series of defense reformsthe latest of which occurred in 2015Japan has developed defense capabilities that are increasingly commensurate with its global political and economic stature. As a result, Japan in increasingly transforming itself into a real ally for the United States.
In his 2016 posture statement, Adm. Harry Harris, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, listed Japan first among five U.S. allies in the Asia Pacific. Harris also stated that Japans 2015 defense legislation, which authorized limited collective self-defense, would significantly increase Japans ability to contribute to peace and security.
The third advantage is strategic. The U.S.-Japan alliance forms the foundation for the rebalance to Asia strategy first announced during the Obama administration. Although Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, during his visit to Japan in March this year, never publicly mentioned the word rebalance, he nevertheless indicated that the U.S. commitment to both Japan and the Asia Pacific region would continue in the Trump administration.
Read this article:
Donald Trump Should Go to Japan | The National Interest - The National Interest Online
- Renaming the Kennedy Center for Donald and Melania Trump would violate the law that created it - NBC News - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump continues feud with Sadiq Khan calling him a nasty person - BBC - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says He 'Never Had the Privilege' to Go to Epstein's Island - People.com - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Not so Crazy in Love: Why is Donald Trump demanding that Beyonc be prosecuted? - Euronews.com - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Watch: Donald Trump accused of cheating at golf - Yahoo Sports - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says His Name May Have Been Planted in Jeffrey Epstein Files - Newsweek - July 28th, 2025 [July 28th, 2025]
- As an American in Scotland, I know we need many things but Donald Trump isnt one of them | Krystal Evans - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- What to know about Donald Trump's executive order on NIL and college sports - NBC News - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- What do we know about Donald Trump's visit to Scotland? - BBC - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- Were terribly sorry: South Park creators respond with humour to White House anger over naked Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 27th, 2025 [July 27th, 2025]
- South Parks most furious episode ever: the jaw-dropping Satanic takedown of Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump will add to pressure on Jerome Powell with visit to Federal Reserve - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Donald Trump visit to Scotland expected to be met with wave of protest - The Guardian - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- South Park Season 27 Premiere Puts Donald Trump in Bed With Satan - Variety - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- Video of Jeffrey Epstein Talking About Donald Trump Resurfaces - Newsweek - July 24th, 2025 [July 24th, 2025]
- The King of Soccer: How Gianni Infantino won over Donald Trump and just about every other politician in America - Politico - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- How Donald Trump is using the courts to push through his agenda - BBC - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Cleveland Guardians respond after President Donald Trump calls for team name to be reverted to old moniker - CBS Sports - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Are Donald Trump's tariffs the new sanctions? - DW - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Everything here is just better: Ellen DeGeneres confirms she moved to the UK because of Donald Trump - The Guardian - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Wont Absolutely Love That He May Have Just Handed an Emmy to Stephen Colbert - The Hollywood Reporter - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Just Got A Brutal New Nickname Courtesy Of Jasmine Crockett, And The Internet Can't Stop Talking About It - Yahoo Home - July 22nd, 2025 [July 22nd, 2025]
- Ellen DeGeneres: I moved to the UK because of Donald Trump - BBC - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Was Diagnosed with Chronic Veinous Insufficiency. Heres What It Means for His Health - Biography: Historical and Celebrity Profiles - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump calls on Cleveland Guardians to restore former name - Akron Beacon Journal - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- The Epstein files and Donald Trump - The Economist - July 20th, 2025 [July 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | Donald Trump is fighting a conspiracy the only way he knows how - The Washington Post - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Underwent Vascular Tests After Swelling In His Legs, Diagnosed With Chronic Venous Insufficiency - Deadline - July 18th, 2025 [July 18th, 2025]
- Why Donald Trump is facing doubts in the manosphere - CNN - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Donald Trump says those interested in Jeffrey Epstein inquiry are bad people - The Guardian - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Responds When Asked If He Was Told His Name Was in Epstein Files - Newsweek - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom's Warning to Donald Trump Over Plan for Texas Republicans - Newsweek - July 16th, 2025 [July 16th, 2025]
- Rosie O'Donnell Scoffs At Donald Trump's Threat To Revoke Her Citizenship - Vanity Fair - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Buckingham Palace Announces Dates of Donald Trump's State Visit to the U.K. and It's Happening Soon - People.com - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Butler one year later: Revisiting the historic assassination attempt against Donald Trump - Fox News - July 14th, 2025 [July 14th, 2025]
- Donald Trump announces 30% tariffs on goods from the EU and Mexico - The Guardian - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump Broke His Social Security Vow -- and It May Be the Best Thing That's Happened to Retirees - Yahoo Finance - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's frustration with Vladimir Putin prompts shift of tone on Ukraine - Financial Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump, the Club World Cup final, and how security protect VIPs at major sporting events - The Athletic - The New York Times - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Donald Trump and the Scots: A not-so special relationship - BBC - July 12th, 2025 [July 12th, 2025]
- Does Donald Trump deserve the Nobel Peace Prize? We asked 5 experts - The Conversation - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Mary Trump Issues Warning on Long-Term Impact of Donald Trump Move - Newsweek - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Donald Trump threatens to impose 50% tariff on Brazil - Financial Times - July 10th, 2025 [July 10th, 2025]
- Is the Hispanic Red Wave for Donald Trump Starting to Crash? - The New Yorker - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump's approval rating by state as of July 2025 - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Sending More Weapons to Ukraine: What We Know - Newsweek - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- It Appears Elon Musk REALLY Pissed Off Donald Trump This Time, And I'm Convinced They're DUNZO - Yahoo - July 8th, 2025 [July 8th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Wants to Add His Face to Mount Rushmore. Here's What Its Former Keeper Says About 'the Reality of the Rock' - Yahoo News - July 6th, 2025 [July 6th, 2025]
- Map Shows Donald Trump's Approval Rating in Every State on 4th of July - Newsweek - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Keir Starmer says good relationship with Donald Trump based on shared family values - The Guardian - July 4th, 2025 [July 4th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's 'Big, Beautiful Bill' Heads Back to the House: What's Next? - Newsweek - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- The play-by-play of the 24-hour war of words between Elon Musk and Donald Trump - Business Insider - July 2nd, 2025 [July 2nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says Hes Found a Group of Very Wealthy People to Buy TikTok and Keep App in U.S. - Variety - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Says Group Of "Very Wealthy People" Looking To Acquire TikTok - Deadline - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Confirmed to Return with Speaking Part in Disney World's Hall of Presidents - WDWMagic - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Warns NY Mayor Candidate Zohran Mamdani: 'Do the Right Thing' - Newsweek - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Donald Trump says 'very wealthy group' has agreed to buy TikTok in the US - Sky News - June 29th, 2025 [June 29th, 2025]
- Orchestrated grovel: critics react to Europes attempts to tame Donald Trump - The Guardian - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Is About to Confront the Real Reason the US Keeps Starting Wars - Politico - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Cuts Off Trade Talks With Canada, 'Effective Immediately' - Newsweek - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Jen's Version: Are we really going to pretend Donald Trump is concerned about classified material? - MSNBC News - June 28th, 2025 [June 28th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Makes Major Change to Mortgages: What to Know - Newsweek - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- 'It's possible' Putin will invade more than Ukraine, says Donald Trump - Euronews.com - June 26th, 2025 [June 26th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Nobel Peace Prize Nomination Withdrawn - Newsweek - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Dear heads of state: Donald Trump wont love you back. He may be the worst boyfriend the world has ever seen - The Guardian - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- Marjorie Taylor Greene Flips Out Over 'Dirty Rumors' About Her And Donald Trump - Yahoo - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- 'How angry Donald Trump is': Social media reacts to Trump dropping F-bomb live on TV - Times of India - June 24th, 2025 [June 24th, 2025]
- President Donald Trump: The strikes were a spectacular military success - Fox News - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump Bombs Iran, and America Waits - The New Yorker - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Bombing Iran, Donald Trump is triggering a tragedy that Thucydides foretold long ago - The Forward - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Is Donald Trump an Antagonist or Champion of the Gay Community? - The New York Times - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump to Address Nation After Attacking Iran Nuclear Sites - Newsweek - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Donald Trump says US has attacked three Iranian nuclear sites and totally obliterated them - The Guardian - June 22nd, 2025 [June 22nd, 2025]
- Juventus meet Donald Trump at the White House as he discusses Iran conflict and transgender women in sport - The New York Times - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Trump denies approving Iran attack plan but will make decision within two weeks | Donald Trump - The Guardian - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Donald Trump's National Park Tip Line Flooded With Angry Messages - Newsweek - June 20th, 2025 [June 20th, 2025]
- Opinion | What the Godfather of American Conservatism Would Think About Donald Trump - Politico - June 16th, 2025 [June 16th, 2025]
- The quiet truce between Gavin Newsom and Donald Trump is over - CalMatters - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Gavin Newsom Dares Donald Trump to Arrest Him: 'Get It Over With' - Newsweek - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]
- Donald Trump Accused Of Inciting Violence With Chilling New Rhyme - Yahoo News - June 10th, 2025 [June 10th, 2025]