Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will meet with President Donald Trump during a visit to the United States this week, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said.
“If circumstances permit, he will visit the United States from February 6 to 8 and hold (his) first Japan-U.S. summit with President Trump in Washington,” Hayashi said.
“Through this visit, we hope to build a strong relationship of trust with the new U.S. administration and elevate the U.S.-Japan alliance to new heights,” he added.
The Nikkei business daily reported that Ishiba wants to discuss increasing U.S. shale gas imports with Trump – citing the president’s promise to “drill, baby, drill.”
Ishiba is also expected to discuss Nippon Steel’s bid to buy U.S. Steel, which was blocked by former President Joe Biden, public broadcaster NHK reported.
Citing national security concerns, Biden blocked Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel last month.
