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Japan's freshly appointed leader, Takaichi, is set to face her primary diplomatic examination as she meets ex-President Trump for important negotiations in the Japanese capital.

Attention of their meeting is anticipated to revolve around economic and security topics, representing a critical juncture for Japan's relationship with its influential ally.

The Historic Leadership and International Debut

The new PM, who recently assumed the role of Japan's initial woman prime minister after securing the leadership of the governing Liberal Democratic Party, had her international debut at the recent Asean summit.

But, her upcoming talks with Trump is seen as the true test that will establish the direction for coming two-way relations.

Handling Domestic and International Challenges

The prime minister deals with a potentially shaky political landscape, having formed a partnership that puts her two seats short of a majority in the influential lower house of parliament.

This means, her government will rely on other MPs to approve laws, introducing a layer of difficulty to her leadership.

Shared Views and Differing Policies

Takaichi holds Trump's wariness of China's defense activities in the region, but both countries have experienced challenges from his "America-first" economic approach.

Recently, the former president facilitated a truce deal between Thailand and Cambodia authorities on the initial stage of his Asia tour.

Defense Build-up and Spending Commitments

Takaichi has expressed her determination to accelerate Japan's military expansion, aiming to raise defense expenditure to 2% of GDP by the end of March.

This step matches a long-held request from Trump and signifies the biggest defense buildup for the nation since the Second World War.

Defense Cooperation and Strains

Japan has also moved to acquire "counterstrike" capabilities, including Tomahawk missiles from the United States, and plans to deploy domestically developed longer-range systems.

However, the two-way security treaty is still a source of strain, with the former president previously stating that the nation should pay more for hosting American troops on its soil.

Economic Outlook and Talks

Not many expect major concessions on trade matters this week, especially after latest tariff adjustments provided a degree of relief to Japan's economy.

Takaichi is likely to pursue additional benefits by promising greater purchases of US goods, including vehicles, soybeans, and natural gas.

Individual Rapport and the Abe Link

The importance the former president attributes to individual rapport could work in Takaichi's favor, given her close ties with the late former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was among his preferred international figures.

Abe was the initial international leader to meet Trump after his election, and the pair developed a close bond over shared activities such as the sport.

Forthcoming Schedule and International Significance

The former president's trip to Japan will begin with a meeting with Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

It will be succeeded by discussions with Takaichi at the official residence, the very venue where he held talks with Abe in previous years.

Afterward, the former president will travel to the Republic of Korea for the Apec meeting, where he is scheduled to engage with Chinese president Xi Jinping.