WORLD
DeSantis praises ‘strong Japan’ military build-up in PM Kishida meeting
On Monday, potential U.S. presidential contender Ron DeSantis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and praised bilateral ties and “strong Japan”.
The Florida governor is on a four-country trade tour to boost his foreign policy credentials before announcing his 2024 Republican presidential bid later this year.
“We really appreciate what a great ally Japan has been to the U.S. for many, many decades,” DeSantis told Kishida at the opening of their meeting at Tokyo’s prime minister’s office.
DeSantis commended Japan’s five-year, $315 billion military expansion last year in response to a rising China and North Korea’s missile tests.
We commend your defense efforts. “We understand it’s a tough neighborhood out here… and we really believe that a strong Japan is good for America, and a strong America is good for Japan,” he said.
After meeting with Yoshimasa Hayashi on Monday, DeSantis will visit South Korea, Israel, and Britain.