Tokyo, Nov. 9 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday pledged to strengthen the alliance between Japan and the United States.

“We want to work together to further strengthen the alliance,” Ishiba told a Self-Defense Forces review ceremony at a training field of the Ground SDF’s Camp Asaka, which straddles Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, apparently keeping in mind a possible meeting with incoming US President Donald Trump.

Work is underway for setting up Ishiba’s first face-to-face meeting with Trump, who won Tuesday’s US presidential election, later this month.

Referring to recent military activities by China, Russia and North Korea, Ishiba said, “The Japan-US alliance is the cornerstone of Japan’s diplomacy and national security.”

“We will build a network of allies and like-minded countries in an effective and multi-layered manner to further ensure regional security and stability,” he said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]