The president of the United States, Donald Trumpand Japanese prime minister, Shigeru Ishibathey reaffirmed this Friday in Washington their commitment to strategic cooperation against key global challenges. The meeting addressed the growing Chinese militarization in the South China Sea, the relationship with North Korea, new commercial measures and a controversial American proposal on the Gaza Strip.
In an encounter that reflected the strategic alignment between Washington and Tokyo, Trump and Iliba discussed a broad bilateral agenda. Among the most prominent ads, the US president said that Japan promised to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) at record levels from the United States, consolidating the role of his country as energy supplier Key to the Japanese economy.
During the joint press conference, both leaders stressed the importance of maintaining stability in the region Indo-Pacific and coordinate efforts on security and trade. Trump insisted that Japan is a fundamental partner in the containment of Chinese and North Korean influence, while Ishiba reaffirmed his intention to strengthen ties with Washington in defense and trade.
One of the most forceful points of the meeting was the joint declaration against China’s actions in the South China Sea. Both leaders denounced the “provocative activities“Beijing, her militarization of artificial islands and her maritime claims, considered” illegal “by Washington and Tokyo.
“Prime Minister ishiba and I reaffirm our strong opposition to illegitimate maritime claims of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and their militarization in the region”Trump said, making it clear that the United States will not remain indifferent to Chinese advance in disputed waters.
The South China Sea has been a constant source of geopolitical friction. Beijing claims almost all of this strategic maritime corridor, where he has built military bases in artificial islets, increasing tension with countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia. The statements of Trump and Ishiba represent a sign of unity against Chinese expansion and could lead to a new episode of diplomatic tensions between Washington and Beijing.
Trump also addressed the situation with North Korea and reaffirmed his position of maintaining open diplomatic channels with Kim Jong Un. During the conference, the American president said that his relationship with the North Korean leader is “good”And that, thanks to its management, a war has been avoided in the Korean Peninsula.
“I think he stopped the war. If I had not won the elections, we would have ended in a very bad situation, ”said Trump, highlighting that Japan values his approach to Kim due to the tense historical relationship between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
Trump’s statements arrive in a context of uncertainty about the future of negotiations with North Korea. During his first term, the Republican leader met three times with Kim Jong Un, including the historic Singapore summit in 2018, but the meetings failed to translate into a denuclearization agreement. Meanwhile, North Korea has resumed its missile tests in recent months, increasing concern in the region.
Another of the songs that marked the day was Trump’s vision on the Gaza Strip. In a statement that generated a stir, the US president said that Washington could treat the crisis in the Palestinian enclave as a “real estate transaction“, Suggesting that your country would act as a”investor”In the region without having troops.
“Basically, the United States would see it as an investment in that part of the world. There is no hurry to do anything, ”Trump said in the Oval Office.
The president also mentioned the possibility that Egypt and Jordan welcomed the two million Gazati as part of a population relocation, a proposal that was quickly rejected by both countries, as well as by the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the authority Palestine and the Arab League.
Trump’s statements reflect a position change regarding their initial strategy, in which it did not rule out military intervention in Gaza. Now, he assures that the US would not need soldiers in the area and that it would be enough American leadership in economic development. However, lA idea of turning Gaza into an investment project has been received with skepticism and rejection, particularly in the Arab world.
In the economic field, Trump said that next week he will announce New tariffs to several countries, with the objective of establishing “equitable conditions” in international trade.
“Next week I will announce reciprocal tariffs, so that we are treated on equal terms with other countries,” said the US president, without giving details about which countries will be affected.
Trump has already imposed 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, although he delayed its application for a month after both countries agreed to reinforce border control against fentanyl and migrants traffic. China, on the other hand, has been the subject of an additional 10%tariff, which has caused commercial reprisals of the Xi Jinping government.
Since his arrival at the White House, Trump has used tariff threats as a pressure tool in commercial negotiations, despite the warnings of economists on the negative impact of a prolonged commercial war. Just two weeks ago, the president threatened to sanction Colombia if Gustavo Petro’s government did not accept the deportation of Colombian migrants from the US.
