Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya announced on Sunday (January 12) that he plans to attend Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on January 20. According to Japan’s Kyodo News, it is rare for Japan to send a foreign minister to the US presidential inauguration. This move comes as Japan seeks to arrange a meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Trump.
Iwaya expressed on NHK, “Our goal is to establish a trusting relationship with the Trump administration.”
He added that he is seeking a meeting with Marco Rubio, the US senator nominated by Trump as Secretary of State.
This will be Iwaya’s first visit to the US since he became Japan’s Foreign Minister in October last year. Japan is a long-time ally of the US and maintained a close relationship with the US during Trump’s first term. Tokyo hopes for a positive start to Trump’s second term.
According to Kyodo News, government sources mentioned on Sunday that Japan is working to arrange for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to visit the US and meet with Trump before mid-February.
Iwaya stated that his goal is to meet with incoming senior officials of the US government to lay the groundwork for Ishiba’s visit to the US.
Kyodo News mentioned that sending a foreign minister to the US presidential inauguration is a rare move, as Japan usually has the Ambassador to the US represent the country at such events.
In a televised program on Sunday, Shigeru Ishiba expressed his desire to meet with Trump at the right time. Following the US election, Ishiba had sought a meeting before Trump’s inauguration but was unsuccessful. Some Japanese government officials believe that holding a formal summit in February is more advantageous than hastily meeting beforehand.
In addition to the Japanese Foreign Minister attending Trump’s inauguration, the Foreign Ministers of India and Australia will also be present at the ceremony.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar will attend Trump’s inauguration and meet with members of the Trump administration.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated on Sunday that she will also attend Trump’s inauguration, calling it “an important opportunity to discuss how to advance our strong economic and security partnership and expand cooperation.”
She mentioned that the Australian government is confident in the US-Australia alliance. Australia is an important Pacific ally of the US and sees the US as its primary security partner.
Quoting Japanese government sources, Kyodo News reported that Quad, composed of Japan, the US, Australia, and India, is planning to hold a foreign ministers’ meeting in the US on January 21.
Nikkei reported that the four countries have begun arrangements to hold a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Washington after Trump’s inauguration.
Previously, the Chinese Communist Party has expressed dissatisfaction with the Quad meetings, believing that the contact between these four countries is aimed at encircling China and escalating conflicts. However, Quad member countries state that they are like-minded democratic nations, aiming to strengthen stability in the Indo-Pacific region.