Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba commenced a diplomatic tour of Peru and Brazil on November 19, 2024, after being reelected as prime minister. His trip aims to showcase his diplomatic capabilities following his initial election in October.
Ishiba arrived in Lima early on Friday to participate in an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting. During the event, he engaged in bilateral discussions with various leaders, including outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.
In addition to bilateral talks, a trilateral meeting involving Japan, the United States, and South Korea was held, resulting in a joint statement announcing the establishment of a trilateral secretariat to enhance cooperation among the three nations.
Ishiba is scheduled to travel to Brazil on November 20 and 21 to attend a Group of 20 summit before returning to Japan. His initial plans to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump after the Latin American tour were unsuccessful, as it was communicated that Trump would not engage with foreign leaders until his inauguration in January.