For Tokyo, 2026 will be chock full of pressing questions — namely about the United States’ commitment to its alliance with Japan and the broader Indo-Pacific region under President Donald Trump, a concern that is sure to bleed into other aspects of Tokyo’s foreign policy.
As much as both allies have publicly brushed away these fears as unfounded in recent months, behind the scenes, officials in Japan remain unconvinced that Trump won’t blindside Tokyo with his wheeling and dealing.
Japan is particularly concerned that Trump could look to seal an agreement with China that effectively divides the region, as relations between Beijing and Tokyo plummet to fresh lows following Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s remarks in parliament about Japanese military involvement in a hypothetical crisis over Taiwan.
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