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The nation's freshly appointed prime minister, Takaichi, is ready to confront her first major foreign policy challenge as she sits down with ex-President Trump for high-stakes discussions in Tokyo.

The agenda of their meeting is expected to focus on trade and defense matters, marking a pivotal juncture for Tokyo's ties with its influential ally.

The Historic Premiership and International Debut

The new PM, who recently assumed the role of Japan's first female prime minister after winning the top position of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, made her global debut at the latest ASEAN summit.

But, her upcoming talks with Trump is considered the true challenge that will establish the direction for future two-way cooperation.

Handling Domestic and International Pressures

The prime minister faces a possibly shaky political landscape, having formed a partnership that leaves her two seats away of a majority in the influential chamber of parliament.

This means, her administration will depend on other MPs to approve laws, introducing a element of difficulty to her leadership.

Common Perspectives and Differing Interests

She holds the former president's wariness of China's military activities in the region, yet each nations have experienced challenges from his "America-first" trade policies.

Recently, the former president oversaw a truce agreement between Thai and Cambodia forces during the initial leg of his Asian tour.

Defense Expansion and Spending Commitments

Takaichi has stated her commitment to speed up Japan's military expansion, aiming to raise defense spending to two percent of GDP by the close of the fiscal year.

This move aligns with a long-held request from Trump and signifies the largest defense expansion for the nation since the WWII.

Defense Cooperation and Tensions

The country has also moved to obtain "retaliatory" abilities, including cruise missiles from the United States, and intends to deploy domestically developed extended-range systems.

But, the two-way security treaty is still a point of tension, with Trump previously stating that Japan should contribute more for stationing US forces on its territory.

Trade Expectations and Talks

Few anticipate significant agreements on economic matters during the visit, especially after latest duty changes offered a degree of relief to the country's economy.

The PM is expected to pursue further relief by promising increased purchases of American products, including vehicles, agricultural produce, and natural gas.

Personal Chemistry and the Abe Connection

The importance Trump attributes to individual rapport could work in the PM's advantage, given her close ties with the late former prime minister Abe, who was one of his favorite international figures.

Abe was the initial international leader to visit Trump after his election, and the two built a strong relationship over mutual activities such as the sport.

Forthcoming Agenda and International Significance

The former president's trip to the country will start with a meeting with the Emperor at the royal residence in the capital.

This will be succeeded by talks with the PM at the state guest house, the very location where he held talks with Abe in 2019.

Subsequently, the former president will proceed to South Korea for the APEC summit, where he is scheduled to engage with China's leader Xi.