In their first meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to deepen the bilateral relationship between their countries. The meeting, which marked a significant step in US-Japan diplomatic ties, came shortly after Iwaya made history as the first Japanese foreign minister to attend a US presidential inauguration earlier.
Following the meeting, Iwaya spoke to reporters, highlighting the productive exchange and emphasizing Rubio’s understanding of the critical role the US-Japan economic relationship plays. Iwaya noted the significant contributions Japan makes to the US economy, although the two ministers did not delve into specifics regarding tariffs during their discussions.
A spokesperson for Secretary Rubio outlined that the talks centered on plans to further strengthen ties under the Trump administration. They also focused on how the US and Japan can collaborate in countering global and regional threats, particularly China’s destabilizing actions in the Indo-Pacific region.
“This was essentially Rubio’s first meeting as Secretary of State,” Iwaya remarked. “We were able to engage in a candid discussion and share views on a wide range of issues.”
While the Trump administration has yet to take major steps on global tariffs, Japan may face future challenges regarding trade policies. In 2019, Japan successfully avoided new tariffs on its auto exports through extensive negotiations. However, the Iwaya-Rubio meeting did not signal any immediate tariff threats.
“We agreed to continue working together to elevate the Japan-US alliance and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Iwaya stated, underscoring the shared commitment to regional stability.
In addition to meeting with Rubio, Iwaya also spoke with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and participated in a Quad meeting with Rubio, as well as representatives from Australia and India. Iwaya noted that the timing of the Quad meeting, held early in the new administration, reflected President Trump’s acknowledgment of the importance of multilateral frameworks.
Iwaya also mentioned that the date for the first summit between President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is still being arranged.
When asked about the possibility of the US requesting Japan to increase its defense spending, Iwaya responded by reiterating Japan’s steady increase in its defense budget. He also highlighted that Japan remains the US’s largest foreign investor.
“We intend to further expand our investments in the US,” Iwaya added. “To facilitate this, I asked Secretary Rubio to address any concerns about Japanese investments in the country,” although he did not specifically refer to the ongoing issue involving Nippon Steel Corp.’s proposed acquisition of United States Steel Corp.
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