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Japan's freshly appointed prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, is set to undertake her first major diplomatic challenge as she sits down with former US President Trump for important talks in Tokyo.

The agenda of their encounter is anticipated to revolve around economic and security matters, representing a critical moment for Japan's ties with its powerful partner.

The Historic Premiership and International Introduction

Takaichi, who just became Japan's initial woman leader after securing the top position of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, had her global debut at the latest Asean meeting.

But, her forthcoming meeting with Trump is seen as the real challenge that will establish the direction for future bilateral cooperation.

Managing Internal and Global Challenges

The prime minister confronts a potentially shaky political landscape, having formed a partnership that leaves her a couple of votes away of a majority in the powerful lower house of the Diet.

This means, her government will rely on opposition MPs to pass laws, introducing a layer of complexity to her governance.

Shared Views and Differing Interests

Takaichi holds Trump's suspicion of China's defense activities in the Asia-Pacific, but both nations have experienced issues from his "America-first" economic policies.

Recently, Trump facilitated a truce deal between Thailand and Cambodian forces on the first stage of his Asian visit.

Military Build-up and Spending Pledges

Takaichi has stated her commitment to speed up Japan's military build-up, aiming to raise defense expenditure to 2% of gross domestic product by the end of March.

This move matches a long-held demand from Trump and signifies the biggest military buildup for Japan since the WWII.

Defense Cooperation and Strains

Japan has also taken steps to acquire "counterstrike" capabilities, including Tomahawk weapons from the United States, and intends to use domestically developed longer-range systems.

But, the bilateral security treaty is still a point of strain, with the former president earlier stating that Japan should contribute more for stationing American forces on its soil.

Trade Expectations and Negotiations

Not many expect significant agreements on economic issues during the visit, especially after recent duty adjustments provided a degree of relief to the country's export sector.

The PM is likely to pursue additional relief by committing to increased purchases of American goods, including pickup trucks, soybeans, and natural gas.

Personal Rapport and the Shinzo Abe Connection

The value the former president attributes to personal rapport could benefit Takaichi's advantage, given her close ties with the late ex-leader Shinzo Abe, who was one of his favorite world leaders.

He was the first international figure to meet the then president-elect after his victory, and the two developed a strong bond over shared interests such as golf.

Forthcoming Agenda and International Significance

Trump's visit to Japan will start with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in the capital.

It will be followed by talks with Takaichi at the official residence, the same location where Trump held talks with Abe in 2019.

Afterward, Trump will proceed to South Korea for the APEC meeting, where he is set to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping.