00:06The Honorable President Donald J. Trump, distinguished guests...
00:11Japanese Prime Minister Takahichi right there with President Trump.
00:14They're headed into a dinner.
00:16We just heard from President Trump speaking very highly of Prime Minister of Japan Takahichi
00:23and also of the Japanese relationship,
00:25especially given that the U.S. is encouraged to see Japan buying some U.S. defense equipment.
00:32Let's get more on Japan-U.S. relations.
00:34Joining us now is Maria Solis, Research Director at the Center for Asia Policy Studies
00:38and the Knight Chair in Japanese Studies at the Brookings Institution.
00:42Great to have you with us, Maria.
00:44I talked about some of the positive sentiment between the two sides.
00:47That seems to be on a very personal level.
00:50At the same time, some of President Trump's comments, especially around Pearl Harbor,
00:54made for some awkward moments.
00:57What would you say is at stake in this meeting and what's been achieved so far?
01:04Pleasure to be here.
01:05A lot is at stake.
01:07I think that it's clear that Prime Minister Takahichi and President Trump
01:10had a good start when they met in Tokyo last fall.
01:13But this was an opportunity really to cement that relationship,
01:17especially after Prime Minister Takahichi had a spectacular electoral win.
01:20Now, she prepared a lot for this, but then things changed quite rapidly just in the past few days,
01:27primarily because of the Iran situation and the expectation they asked from President Trump
01:33that Japan contribute to the effort to open the Strait of Hormuz.
01:37This is difficult for Japan, given the constitutional restrictions,
01:41and this would require for Japan to assess whether the situation rises to threatening their survival.
01:47They have not called it that way.
01:49And how then you deal with the legality of such measures
01:52and the expectations of the President that you step up quickly and provide some support.
01:58So a lot is at stake regarding the expectations the President has of Japan
02:02and the ability of the Prime Minister to keep the good relationship with the United States,
02:07but also make sure that it conforms with its own procedures for such operations.
02:13What we've seen so far, I mentioned Japan buying the U.S. defense equipment that President Trump seems to like.
02:19We have seen Japan touting their engagement and influence in diplomatic ties with Iran
02:25to help out in mediating some sort of resolution.
02:28We know that they want to buy more oil from the U.S., some energy deals.
02:33Can Japan do more to appease President Trump?
02:36We have heard from local media the likes of perhaps training U.S. personnel,
02:42naval mine clearing exercises within the constitutional restraints.
02:48Well, Japan can do a lot.
02:51And as you mentioned, Japan has very strong capabilities in mines and clearing the mines.
02:56But for Japan to intervene in that effort, it's always after the combat is over.
03:02Japan does not engage in these measures while it's an active theater of combat.
03:06But the training of personnel certainly could help, but this would be a medium- to long-term effort.
03:14I think the challenge, though, is that we're dealing with a very severe global energy shock
03:19and that Japan is also watching, you know, how measures to release strategic oil reserves,
03:26how they're impacting or not oil prices.
03:28You know, the majority of the oil that Japan receives comes from the Middle East.
03:32So Japan can be very helpful in that line.
03:36And Japan is also helping the United States address its own critical minerals dependence.
03:41So energy is a big, big topic for this conversation,
03:45how to make sure that energy demand can be met through different venues.
03:51There's also the concern about regional stability while the U.S. is distracted in the Middle East, right?
03:56What do you make of perhaps these topics in this meeting,
04:00given how essential it is to have that stability in the Asia-Pacific for Japan?
04:06I think there's real concern.
04:07It is questionable that the United States now is primarily engaged in dealing with this very serious situation
04:14in the Middle East in the past few weeks and days.
04:17It has been redirecting a lot of key military equipment resources from the Indo-Pacific theater
04:25to the Middle East, including some Marines who are based in Okinawa.
04:29They're now going to be transferred to address the situation there.
04:32So, you know, when you talk about deterrence, and this is central,
04:36I think this is a message that Takahichi-san prepared for
04:39in thinking about the summits you wanted to have with President Trump,
04:43that both sides would come to agree and to send the message that
04:47the United States is committed, is resolute,
04:50it has a very strong deterrence posture,
04:52and how then it talks about Taiwan when it engages when China is central.
04:57But deterrence also hinges on resources,
05:00and when you see the United States spending or redirecting military resources to the Middle East
05:06and its entire foreign policy apparatus being concerned with addressing that pressing challenge,
05:13then I think this creates concern, not only in Japan,
05:15but amongst most of our partners in Asia.
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