Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso Meets with Donald Trump in New York
Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, a prominent figure in Japan’s ruling party, met with former U.S. President Donald Trump in New York on Tuesday, in a bid to establish ties with the Republican presidential candidate.
The 83-year-old Aso, who currently serves as the vice president of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party, arrived at Trump Tower in Manhattan for the meeting, which lasted about an hour.
Trump, welcoming Aso into the building, praised him as a highly respected figure in Japan and beyond, noting their mutual connection through the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Aso, who previously served as deputy prime minister under Abe, has a long history of shaping U.S.-Japan relations and is seen as a key player in maintaining strong ties between the two countries.
The meeting between Aso and Trump comes as Japan seeks to engage with key figures close to the former president ahead of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. Concerns have been raised in Japan about the potential impact of a Trump victory on trade and defense relations with the U.S.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa emphasized that Aso’s visit to the U.S. was a personal activity and not a government-led initiative. The meeting between Trump and Aso follows recent efforts by other countries to strengthen ties with the former president as polls show a tight race between him and current President Joe Biden.
The meeting between Aso and Trump underscores the ongoing efforts by global leaders to navigate the complex landscape of international relations in the lead-up to the U.S. election.