Three weeks into his second term, President Donald Trump is making major moves on the international stage, balancing trade negotiations with crucial diplomatic meetings. After securing temporary tariff relief deals with Mexico and Canada, Trump is now preparing to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the White House this week. These meetings signal a recalibration of U.S. foreign policy and economic strategy in his new term.
Trump’s approach to trade has always been aggressive, and his latest 30-day tariff postponement agreement with Mexico and Canada is no exception. In exchange for relief from the tariffs, both nations have agreed to increase efforts to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking—a major policy priority for Trump’s administration. The agreements reflect his signature deal-making style, using economic pressure to extract national security commitments.
Meanwhile, China remains a looming question in Trump’s trade policy. With ongoing disputes over tariffs, manufacturing dominance, and intellectual property, his administration is expected to ramp up negotiations with Beijing in the coming weeks.
Netanyahu’s visit to the White House is particularly significant—it marks the first official meeting between Trump and a foreign leader since his second inauguration. Richard Goldberg, senior adviser at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, described the meeting as “a powerful signal to both shared adversaries and shared supposed allies.”
“The clearest message is one of closeness and unity being sent to Iran and its proxies,” Goldberg told the Washington Examiner, pointing out that the Biden administration’s foreign policy often distanced the U.S. from Israel, a move critics argue emboldened Tehran. With this meeting, Trump is reaffirming the U.S.-Israel alliance at a time of heightened geopolitical tension.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) echoed this sentiment, calling Netanyahu’s visit “a clear sign of the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship as the two allies work together to seize opportunities in the region that will strengthen both nations and confront challenges posed by Iran and its proxies.”
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu also comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following the October 7 terrorist attacks. Brokered in the final days of Biden’s presidency, the ceasefire agreement—extended with input from Trump’s transition team—remains delicate as Israel and Hamas navigate a complex multi-phase peace deal.
The first phase of the agreement included the release of 33 Israeli hostages, a prisoner exchange, Israel withdrawing from most of Gaza, and an increase in humanitarian aid. However, this phase is set to expire on February 18, raising concerns about whether the truce will hold. The second phase aims to secure the release of younger Israeli male hostages while pushing Israel toward a permanent end to the war. The final stage, if successful, would lead to Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, the return of remaining bodies, and the beginning of post-war reconstruction.
While Trump has remained vocal about his commitment to supporting Israel, his administration now faces a critical decision: how to navigate an increasingly volatile Middle East while maintaining strong U.S. relations with key allies.
Later this week, Trump will welcome Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, further emphasizing his administration’s focus on strengthening Pacific alliances. Japan plays a key role in the U.S. strategy to counterbalance China’s growing influence, and this visit is expected to address military cooperation, economic partnerships, and trade agreements.
Trump’s return to the White House has already demonstrated a dramatic shift in U.S. foreign policy. His meetings with Netanyahu and Ishiba, combined with his trade negotiations, set the tone for the next four years of American leadership on the world stage.
