What messages are sent from Abe-Trump sixth face-to-face meeting?

US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida Tuesday met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for their sixth face-to-face meeting to reinforce the US-Japan alliance.

Dr. Stephen Nagy, a senior associate professor at the Department of Politics and International Studies of the International Christian University, told CGTN about the possible move that US and Japan would take to maintain "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. He also spoke about the benefits Abe can bring after his two-day visit in the US.

**The "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang **

According to Dr. Nagy, "what Prime Minister Abe and Mr. Trump need to do in terms of the consolidated action on North Korea is to present a possible future to escape escalation process on the Peninsula", in other words, to "set out a timeline and a pass way where the de-escalation can occur".

"Now they (the US and Japan) can borrow from Chinese and Russian friends, the 'freeze-for-freeze' plan where the United States freezes its joint actions with the South Koreans in exchange for freeze on missile development", he added.

However, Nagy said the US and Japan need to be on the same page in so far as "a unified front to putting pressure on North Korea" – to emphasize that "denuclearization includes not only intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) but also concerns of short & mid- range missiles".

The two countries "need to again think about how they can create a way out of this crisis", which is a crucial matter in Nagy's view. Concretely, Abe and Trump need to talk about diplomacy, economic aid, but also the security for the Kim regime.

**The triumphant after Trump-Abe meeting **

Given a phony bilateral trade issue between Japan and the US, it is important that Abe goes to Trump for a triumphant.

Nagy noted "there are many options on Abe part", and "take a play book out of the recent negotiations between South Korea and United States by opening up automobile industry in terms of bringing more automobiles into Japan" – a take-home for Trump administration.

But "impressing upon Mr. trump" said Nagy, is the benefit of TPP-11 which has been left open to the US. and that the US plays an important role in shaping trade rules going forward within the region. He stated that there are new partners benefit Japan, US and other countries within the region.

"This is a take home message that plays well with Mr. Trump," Nagy added. TPP-11 "plays well for Trump's supporters, and plays well for the idea of 'the American first', to put trade first, a fair trade, more trades and trade benefits all states quotas equally".

(CGTN)