U.S. President Donald Trump's seeming embrace of Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday — and his labeling of the European Union as a "foe" a day earlier — have sent shock waves through the capitals of American allies, including Tokyo. But the Putin-Trump summit could prove to be something of a political boon for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Trump's meeting with Putin in Helsinki was his first one-on-one summit with a man he has variously described as an important U.S. competitor but also a strong, effective leader. These descriptions — which have come despite criticism of alleged Russian meddling in U.S. elections, its annexation of Crimea and its suspected political assassinations — align with much of Abe's views on Putin.
"For the most part, Abe will be pleased about Trump's decision to meet with Putin in Helsinki," said James D.J. Brown, an associate professor at Temple University in Tokyo who specializes in Japan-Russia relations. "This is because it can be seen as a vindication of Abe's own policy toward Russia."
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