Japan PM Cancels NATO Summit Amid U.S. Tension

Tokyo, June 25 (The Conversation) — In a stark rebuke to the current state of the Japan-US relationship, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has decided to cancel his attendance at the NATO summit in The Hague, signaling growing discontent toward the Trump administration.

Originally slated to attend the summit, Ishiba's withdrawal comes amid reports that a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump, as well as a gathering of the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) NATO partners, was unlikely. Instead, Japan will be represented by Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, underscoring its continued commitment to a security partnership with NATO.

The cancellation highlights the troubled relationship between the US and Japan, exacerbated by the punitive tariffs imposed by Trump. Dubbed “Liberation Day” tariffs, these measures set a 25% rate on Japanese cars and 24% on all other imports, leading to a significant drop in automobile exports to the US by 25% in May, compared to the previous year.

Despite six rounds of negotiations, Japan insists on full tariff exemptions while also facing US pressure to boost its defense spending. Discontent simmered further when Tokyo reportedly canceled a summit with US defense and foreign ministers over spending demands, a claim denied by a Japanese official.

The situation was further strained when Japan refrained from fully supporting recent US efforts against Iran, despite understanding the US's stance on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Japan’s longstanding amicable relations with Iran and its oil dependency prompted this stance as Japan navigates the complexities of international geopolitics.

Beyond the economic and diplomatic rifts, the traditional US-Japan military alliance faces uncertainty under Trump's “America first” rhetoric, labeling the relationship as “one-sided.” Efforts to maintain regional security continue, however, through joint drills and prospective military collaborations.

Looking beyond the US, Japan is likely to enhance strategic engagements with NATO, the EU, ASEAN, and particularly Australia, which is considering acquiring Japan’s Mogami-class frigates. Should the AUKUS alliance falter, Japanese submarines might also be a viable alternative for Australia.

Domestically, Ishiba navigates a challenging political landscape. He faces decreasing popularity and the pressure of maintaining his party's political dominance after losing the lower house majority in recent snap elections. The LDP’s poor performance in Tokyo’s Metropolitan Assembly elections adds to this turbulence, foreshadowing a possible defeat in the upcoming upper house elections on July 20. A failure to sustain the majority could see Ishiba pressured to resign. (The Conversation)

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