Photo: Alamy
President Trump met with former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso at Trump Tower in New York City on Tuesday evening, where the pair discussed relations between the United States and Japan for about an hour, according to Reuters.
Upon Aso’s arrival, the 45th president took a few brief questions from the media before heading off to their meeting.
Aso is the current vice president of the country’s governing Liberal Democratic Party but also served as deputy prime minister under the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was very close to President Trump.
Reuters described Aso as “a longtime powerbroker in Japanese politics,” who has “decades of experience shaping U.S.-Japan ties.”
A readout from President Trump’s campaign said that the pair “discussed the enduring importance of the US-Japan alliance to both countries’ physical and economic security and to stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
Additionally, they “discussed challenges posed by China and North Korea, noting that “President Trump praised Japan’s increased defense spending,” according to the readout.
President Trump also complimented Aso “on his long and distinguished career and reiterated his support and admiration for the Japanese people.”
Following the meeting, President Trump posted a video of Aso’s arrival, writing, “It was my great honor to welcome former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso – at Trump Tower this evening!”
The 45th president also shared a photo from the meeting, where he gifted Aso a symbolic key to the White House.