Japan-U.S. alliance ‘stronger than ever’
29 May, 2019
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday inspected the Japanese Izumo-class destroyer Kaga at the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s Yokosuka base in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The two leaders gave words of encouragement to roughly 500 Japanese and U.S. troops in the hangar of the ship.
“It’s the very first time in history that the two leaders of Japan and the United States give words of encouragement together to members of the SDF and U.S. forces,” Abe said.
“The Japan-U.S. alliance has become more robust than ever,” he said. “The fact that we stand together on board the Kaga today is a testament to such a robust alliance.”
Abe also touched on his government’s plans to renovate its two Izumo-class destroyers into de facto aircraft carriers that can host U.S.-made F-35B stealth fighters, saying that Japan can further contribute to peace and stability in the region.
By taking Trump aboard the destroyer, Abe apparently sought to persuade the U.S. leader that large-scale purchases of defense equipment, such as F-35 fighters, will help correct the trade imbalance between the two countries. Trump has argued that the U.S. trade deficit is a key issue in the ongoing bilateral trade negotiations.
Trump welcomed Japan’s purchase of the sophisticated stealth fighters, saying it will give Japan the largest F-35 fleet of any U.S. ally.
“I want to thank my friend [Abe]... for his commitment to improving Japan’s defense capabilities, which also advances the security of the United States,” he said.
It was the first time for a U.S. president to set foot on an MSDF destroyer.
Trump also visited the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka to make an address to U.S. citizens from aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp.
The trip to Yokosuka marked the completion of his four-day tour as the first foreign leader invited to Japan as a state guest in the new era Reiwa, which began upon the Imperial succession May 1.
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