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Japan's newly elected prime minister, Takaichi, is preparing to face her first major foreign policy test as she engages with former US President Donald Trump for high-stakes negotiations in Tokyo.

Attention of their encounter is expected to center on trade and defense matters, representing a key moment for Japan's relationship with its powerful ally.

A Significant Premiership and Global Introduction

The new PM, who recently became Japan's first female leader after winning the top position of the ruling LDP, made her global introduction at the recent Asean summit.

However, her forthcoming meeting with the former president is regarded as the real test that will set the tone for coming two-way cooperation.

Managing Domestic and Global Challenges

The prime minister deals with a possibly unstable political landscape, having established a partnership that puts her a couple of votes away of a controlling number in the powerful chamber of the Diet.

This means, her administration will rely on other lawmakers to pass legislation, introducing a element of complexity to her governance.

Common Perspectives and Diverging Policies

She holds the former president's suspicion of Chinese defense presence in the Asia-Pacific, yet both nations have faced challenges from his "US-first" trade policies.

Lately, the former president oversaw a truce deal between Thai and Cambodia authorities on the first leg of his Asian tour.

Military Expansion and Spending Commitments

The leader has expressed her commitment to speed up Japan's defense build-up, aiming to increase military expenditure to two percent of GDP by the close of the fiscal year.

This move matches a longstanding request from Trump and signifies the biggest defense expansion for Japan since the WWII.

Security Partnership and Strains

Japan has also taken steps to obtain "counterstrike" abilities, including cruise weapons from the United States, and plans to deploy domestically developed longer-range missiles.

But, the two-way security agreement is still a point of tension, with the former president earlier stating that the nation should pay more for stationing American forces on its territory.

Trade Expectations and Talks

Not many anticipate significant concessions on economic matters this week, particularly after latest duty adjustments provided some ease to Japan's economy.

The PM is expected to pursue further relief by promising increased acquisitions of American products, including vehicles, agricultural produce, and gas.

Personal Chemistry and the Shinzo Abe Link

The importance the former president attributes to individual rapport could work in Takaichi's favor, given her close ties with the late ex-leader Shinzo Abe, who was among Trump's favorite world leaders.

Abe was the first foreign leader to meet Trump after his election, and the pair developed a close bond over mutual activities such as the sport.

Upcoming Agenda and International Significance

Trump's visit to the country will begin with a audience with the Emperor at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo.

This will be succeeded by talks with Takaichi at the official residence, the same location where he held talks with the former leader in 2019.

Subsequently, the former president will travel to South Korea for the Apec summit, where he is set to engage with Chinese president Xi.