By consistently advocating democratic values and maintaining strong domestic approval, Prime Minister Abe built a solid political foundation that strengthened the U.S.–Japan alliance and ultimately led to President Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima.

By demonstrating a strong political foundation through the accumulation of diplomatic achievements and the maintenance of high cabinet approval ratings in domestic politics.
2016-11-23.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Through every possible opportunity, including international conferences and bilateral meetings with world leaders, he continued to emphasize that he valued democratic principles such as freedom, human rights, and the rule of law above all else.
He also stressed that the “window for dialogue” remained constantly open even toward China and South Korea, which were refusing summit meetings, thereby gradually increasing his credibility within the international community.
Offering a “lifeline” in a moment of isolation.
Meanwhile, President Obama was regarded as a somewhat isolated leader, said to have “no friends among world leaders, and particularly poor relations with allies such as the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and Israel” according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the G7 summit held in Brussels in June of 2016, President Obama found himself isolated among the leaders over the policy of sanctions against Russia, which had triggered the Ukraine crisis, and even engaged in a fierce argument with French President Hollande.
It was Prime Minister Abe who extended a lifeline at that moment and brought the meeting to a soft landing.
He later confided to those around him about what happened at that time.
“Prime Minister Renzi of Italy asked for a high five, and President Obama hugged me for the first time.”
It was the moment when President Obama finally expressed his trust in Prime Minister Abe through his actions.
Furthermore, Prime Minister Abe strategically sought to strengthen the Japan–U.S. alliance from two perspectives, security and historical issues.
On the security front, he enacted the State Secrets Protection Law and successive security-related legislation allowing limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense, even at the cost of a temporary drop of approximately ten points in cabinet approval ratings, amid strong requests from the United States and others.
Regarding historical issues, he delivered a message of “reconciliation” in his address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress and issued a statement on the 70th anniversary of the end of the war that the United States could welcome.
Around this time, Prime Minister Abe remarked, “With regard to the United States, it feels as though the historical issues are already settled.”
By demonstrating a strong political foundation through accumulated diplomatic achievements and the maintenance of high cabinet approval ratings in domestic politics, he was finally able to bring about President Obama’s visit to Hiroshima.
Meanwhile, what would happen with Mr. Trump.
After their meeting, Prime Minister Abe expressed confidence about the future to those around him.
“It was good that I was able to meet Mr. Trump first among foreign leaders. The initial contact is important. Basically, he has been declining requests for meetings until his inauguration as president.”