The number of face-to-face talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Donald Trump illustrates the outstanding degree of closeness between the two leaders, according to observers.
The 11 times the two have held face-to-face talks is the greatest number among Trump's tally of meetings with other foreign leaders -- followed by eight times with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and seven times with South Korean President Moon Jae In and French President Emmanuel Macron each.
Trump and Abe have talked with each other more than 40 times in person and on the phone, a senior official of the U.S. administration said, emphasizing the frequency and depth of their dialogue as unprecedented.
In choosing which foreign leaders he will meet for talks, Trump seems to place importance on his compatibility with each figure, as well as whether talks with the figure will reap practical benefits.
Abe was the first foreign leader to meet Trump after his victory in the U.S. presidential election in November 2016. Abe seems to be an ideal partner for Trump, according to an official of the U.S. Republican Party, as the prime minister has maintained a stable political foundation and has shown a positive stance on Japanese investments in the United States.
In a meeting with Japanese business leaders on Saturday, Trump emphasized he was grateful that Japan has placed an order for a large number of U.S.-made fighter planes and missiles.
Netanyahu follows Abe in the frequency of meetings with the U.S. president. This can be interpreted as indicating that the Trump administration's pro-Israel stance is the basis of its Middle East policy.
Trump has realized the transfer of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, using the accomplishment to appeal to the Christian right, which has continued to support him.
Meanwhile, Trump's compatibility with Moon, who is known for his tilt toward liberalism, is said to be less-than-satisfactory. The relatively high frequency of talks between them shows their cooperation is indispensable for dealing with the problem of North Korea.
To avoid giving the impression that he attaches importance to Japan while negleting South Korea, Trump is keeping a delicate balance between the two, according to a U.S. government source.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
