After Trump Victory, Japan Pushes for Stronger US Relations

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Japan quickly congratulated United States President-elect Donald Trump after he was declared the winner of the election on November 6.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi spoke at a November 6 press conference, commenting on the next US administration. "To further strengthen the Japan-US alliance, we aim to build a strong relationship of trust and cooperation," he stated. "We are closely watching developments and impact [from the election]," he said.

Japan is facing "the most severe and complex security environment since the end of the war," says the 2024 Diplomatic Bluebook. Amid this worsening environment, the Japanese government aims to showcase the strength of Japan-US relations both domestically and internationally. It looks forward to doing so with President-elect Trump, who was declared the victor in the US presidential election in the early hours of November 6.

*Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi holds a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office on November 6 (©Sankei by Ataru Haruna).*

This includes strengthening the deterrence power of the Japan-US alliance.

Watching with Keen Interest

Indeed, the Japan-US alliance remains the cornerstone of Japan's foreign and security policy. Tokyo has been preparing to seamlessly strengthen relations, whether the next president is Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to a senior Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) official, some believed that if Harris were to win, many of Joe Biden's staff would remain in place. However, MOFA, led by the Japanese Embassy in the US, has also been quietly engaging with individuals connected to Trump. These include former cabinet members and senior presidential advisors from the US National Security Council (NSC) during the first Trump administration.

"The policy outlined in the National Security Strategy to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance remains unchanged," the MOFA official elaborated. We will build relations with the new administration based on this foundation."

China has increased its military activities in the East China Sea and around Taiwan. In addition, North Korea recently deployed troops to Russia, linking Japan's security environment to the situation in Ukraine. As a result, the importance of US involvement in the Indo-Pacific region has grown significantly.

A China Coast Guard ship intrudes into Japanese territorial waters, approaching within approximately one kilometer of Uotsuri Island, Ishigaki City, Okinawa on the morning of April 27. (© Sankei by Naoki Otake)

Uncertainty in Multilateral Frameworks

Biden's administration has focused on regional security through frameworks like the Quad, which includes Japan, the US, Australia, and India. Furthermore, it also worked to develop trilateral cooperation between Japan, the US, and South Korea. Unlike Harris, who was expected to continue Biden's foreign policy, Trump favors bilateral deals on issues such as trade. He may, therefore, introduce greater uncertainty into multilateral frameworks, including those involving Japan and the US.

However, another senior MOFA official pointed out, "There is bipartisan consensus that US involvement in the Indo-Pacific region is a top priority." Regarding how to approach Trump, he said, "We will continue to emphasize the importance of US involvement while garnering support for the consensus."

Read the article in Japanese.

Author: Takao Harakawa

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