Trump’s Allies Promise Support
Donald Trump’s allies have been reassuring officials in Japan and South Korea that if Trump wins the 2024 presidential election, he will continue to support a Biden-era effort to strengthen ties between the US, Japan, and South Korea. This move aims to counter threats from China and North Korea.
These assurances have been communicated through several conversations between Trump’s policy advisers and officials from Seoul and Tokyo.
Policy advisers close to Trump have been meeting with officials in Japan and South Korea. Fred Fleitz, a former chief of staff in Trump’s National Security Council, recently traveled to Japan and met with key officials, including Japan’s national security adviser, Takeo Akiba. Fleitz conveyed that the US-Japan-South Korea alliance would remain strong under Trump.
These conversations are particularly significant following President Biden’s poor performance in a recent debate. Some believe this could influence undecided voters to lean toward Trump in the upcoming election. Trump’s allies have been actively involved in foreign policy discussions, indicating serious preparations for a possible second Trump term.
The Trump campaign has not officially confirmed whether Trump will accept these foreign policy proposals. Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, emphasized that no one has the authority to make promises on behalf of Trump.
Fleitz clarified that he was sharing his assessment based on his experience with Trump, not speaking on Trump’s behalf.
Dozens of meetings have been held between high-level officials from Japan and South Korea and right-wing think tanks such as the America First Policy Institute and the Heritage Foundation. These think tanks are known for planning policies that Trump could implement if he wins the 2024 election. An Asian official involved in these meetings noted that their government is taking the discussions seriously.
The effort by Trump’s allies to outline policy priorities for a potential second term shows a serious, early commitment. In 2016, Trump’s unexpected victory left many countries scrambling to understand his policies. This time, conservative think tanks have been actively making detailed plans, recognizing Japan and South Korea as critical allies in various areas, including military and economic cooperation.
Despite Trump’s previous criticism of traditional alliances, the current outreach to Asia suggests some continuity between Trump and Biden’s policies.
Biden has prioritized strengthening alliances and has encouraged Japan and South Korea to overcome their historical differences. This effort led to a significant summit at Camp David last summer, where new defense cooperation was pledged.
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Senator Bill Hagerty, who served as ambassador to Japan during Trump’s administration, supports deepening economic ties between the US, Japan, and South Korea. Another former Trump official indicated that the current conversations are partly a campaign strategy to avoid giving Democrats new points of attack.
Positive Reception in Asia
In Japan and South Korea, the messages from Trump’s allies have been positively received. Officials in both countries appreciate the reassurances that Trump’s Asia policy may differ from his hard-nosed approach that previously strained relations with other allies. Both the South Korean and Japanese foreign ministries have emphasized the importance of continued cooperation with the US.
As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, the discussions and reassurances from Trump’s allies signal a serious effort to maintain and strengthen alliances in Asia. The outcome of the election and the potential for a second Trump term remain closely watched by officials in Japan and South Korea.
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