DONALD Trump and Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe will put domestic controversies to one side when they meet at the US president’s Mar-a-Lago resort for two days of talks.
Like the US leader, Abe has found himself at the centre of criticism, in his case allegations of cronyism and the mishandling of documents by ministries.
Before boarding his flight to the US from Tokyo, Abe took the unusual step of pledging to clean up the mess in government when he gets back.
“As head of the government, I’m committed to deal with every single problem responsibly to uncover the truth and squeeze out the pus,” he said.
Abe’s meetings with Trump may provide a brief respite from his problems at home and could even stem the slide in his popularity.
The two leaders plan to play golf, as at their two previous summits. But this round of talks in Florida may prove more challenging than the first two.
Abe will have to overcome policy divisions on trade and potentially North Korea that have emerged in Trump’s second year in office.
A poor summit showing could further undermine Abe’s position at home.
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