Japan's Abe to meet Trump "around January 27"

PanARMENIAN.Net - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is arranging to meet Donald Trump about a week after he takes over as U.S. president on January 20, Jiji news service reported on Tuesday, December 6.

Abe met Trump in New York last month, soon after his election victory, and Jiji said Abe would meet him around January 27. Trump's inauguration is due on January 20, Reuters says.

A spokesman for the Japanese prime minister's office said he was not aware of the meeting and declined further comment.

Abe was the first foreign leader Trump met after his election win and he could potentially be the first foreign leader Trump meets after officially becoming president, suggesting strong ties with Japan are important to Trump.

The U.S.-Japan military alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's defence and foreign policy, but Trump's comments during his campaign caused many people to doubt his commitment to it.

Abe described Donald Trump as a "trustworthy leader" after a hastily arranged 90-minute meeting at Trump Tower in Manhattan last month, but few details of the discussion have emerged.