Kishida’s White House visit reflects closeness of ties

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s long-awaited visit to the United States was an opportunity to show the world the close relationship he enjoys with U.S. President Joe Biden.

“e president met me at the door and gave us time to talk alone. e treatment I received was very generous and cordial,” Kishida told reporters a er the summit talks.

In the meeting, Kishida secured Biden’s cooperation for the success of the Group of Seven summit meeting to be held in Hiroshima in May.

e prime minister had been seeking an opportunity to visit Washington since he took o ce in October 2021. e visit was realized one year and three months a er his inauguration.

e two leaders met during Biden’s visit to Japan last May and again on the sidelines of an international conference in Cambodia in November.

Shinzo Abe visited Washington within two months of his inauguration when he assumed his second stint as Prime Minister. Compared to previous Japanese prime ministers, Kishida’s rst visit to the United States as leader took time, but he was received with outstanding hospitality.

A er a breakfast meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris, the prime minister visited the White House, where he was greeted by Biden. In the Biden administration, the Chief of Protocol usually greets heads of state at the entrance of the White House, according to a Japanese government o cial, who emphasized the success of the visit.

“We were able to raise the personal relationship of trust between the two leaders to an even higher level,” the o cial said.

According to sources, this generous treatment re ects a view within the U.S. government that the prime minister of Japan, which has taken the step to signi cantly strengthen its defense capabilities, should be treated cordially.

e meeting between the two leaders was preceded by lunch, which is rare for Biden when he meets foreign dignitaries.

e purpose of Kishida’s visit was also to make arrangements for the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

In the summit talks, Kishida said he would like to convey to the world from Hiroshima his pledge that humanity will never again su er the horror of nuclear weapons.

Kishida has said it is his life’s work to realize a “world without nuclear weapons.” (Jan. 15)