Image Credits: Bloomberg
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to visit the United States in late September, coinciding with the U.N. General Assembly in New York, according to government sources. This visit will be a significant diplomatic endeavor as Kishida prepares to step down from his role. Final arrangements are underway, and the timing of the trip could intersect with the election of a new president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The planned visit, starting around September 22, could be a unique occurrence in Japanese political history. If the LDP presidential election is held on September 20, Kishida would make this international trip after the party’s new leader is chosen, marking a departure from the norm. Historically, it has been uncommon for an incumbent prime minister to travel abroad after a new LDP president is elected, with the last such instance occurring in 2000.
The trip will include a highly anticipated meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, who has recently withdrawn from the U.S. presidential race. This engagement will provide Kishida an opportunity to summarize his diplomatic achievements and set the stage for his post-premiership role. Kishida’s visit is expected to be a few days long and could conclude with the new prime minister being appointed at an extraordinary Diet session, possibly as early as September 24.
Kishida’s visit follows a precedent set by former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who traveled to the U.S. during the September 2021 LDP leadership election but did not attend the U.N. General Assembly. Instead, Suga participated in a Quad leaders’ meeting and held separate talks with Biden, delivering his speech via prerecorded video.
The upcoming U.N. meeting represents a pivotal moment for Kishida to announce his resignation to the global leaders in attendance. A senior Foreign Ministry official noted, “Kishida’s engagement with world leaders before stepping down is a significant diplomatic gesture.” As Japan anticipates the potential return of former U.S. President Donald Trump in the upcoming election, there are considerations within the Japanese government to ensure that the new prime minister navigates relationships with U.S. leadership carefully.