Abe seeks Western rapprochement with Putin

Abe should wait for Japan's GDP to hit 600 trillion yen to corroborate his policies, before pretending he can be a leader on the world stage.

Developing friendship with Russia will pay dividends to Japan in the long run. Right approach followed by PM Abe.

I guess PM Abe is thinking he is chairman of a G1 committee.

Abe should wait for Japan's GDP to hit 600 trillion yen to corroborate his policies, before pretending he can be a leader on the world stage.

Why wait? Japan is still the third-largest economy, so Abe actually can corroborate his political agenda with economic might. .

And as talks between Abe and Putin will set the return of all 4 islets off Hokkaido as a pre-condition, they will go nowhere. Mr Abe and the right need to drop their delusions and accept they will likely get none of them back.

More delusions. Where's the couch?

Japan is still the third-largest economy, so Abe actually can corroborate his political agenda with economic might.

Japan's economy is big, but it's been in relative decline for years.

Abe boosted the stock market by weakening the currency, but he hasn't done anything to sustainably grow the real economy, despite 3 years in power.

So I don't think overseas leaders are likely to jump at his wishes. If he had some true economic results to show, they might then pay attention.

Who cares any more what Abe says?

Japan's economy is big, but it's been in relative decline for years.

So what? The same can be said about almost every major economy of the world: "...'s economy is big, but it has problems lately".

So I don't think overseas leaders are likely to jump at his wishes

No problem. Then Abe can do it on its own. A bit of independent policy would be good for Japan.

At this moment bankrupting Russia is the core interest of the U.S.

Who cares any more what Abe says?

Mr Abe, of course

asakaze:

Why wait? Japan is still the third-largest economy, so Abe actually can corroborate his political agenda with economic might. .

Fat lot of use they were at that last climate change meeting.

As a Ukrainian I'd like to say that rapprochement with Russia will stimulate its own aggressive politics in the Eastern Europe and in the Middle East. Abe must understand that Putin is not interested in peace in these regions. His main aim is a power politics, not peace. If G7 will be again G8, it will mean that annexation of Crimea and war in Eastern Ukraine are excused.

@sfjp330

At this moment bankrupting Russia is the core interest of the U.S

And buying Russian rockets for the US space program is the surest way to achieve that.

@Pukey2

Fat lot of use they were at that last climate change meeting

Sure Japan was the only bad guy at the meeting.

It doesn't require 'mystic meg' to figure out why the Government of Japan is courting President Putin. Reclamation of the Northern Territories is a fools errand, up to 30,000 Russian citizens inhabit these Isles. They have UN status, let's not go there.

President Putin is a skilled politican at the same time a degenerate political gambler, no disrepect to Russian commentators. Abe san patience is a virtue.

B.l. Sharma: Developing friendship with Russia will pay dividends to Japan in the long run. Right approach followed by PM Abe

What utter rubbish you do talk. Japan developed fri he ship with the soviets and got nothing in return. Friendship works out only when both parties get something out of it; so what would Japan get out of friendship with Russia?

Moscow—which also holds a permanent veto-wielding seat on the UN Security Council—is seen as a powerbroker in the region.

So does china.

The US will be screwed if they want to immediately snap sanctions back on Iran for any alleged violations of the "deal." This is especially true if both china-russia, both sitting in the UNSEC, even agree that a "violation" occurred in the 1st place.

so what would Japan get out of friendship with Russia?

@Jay Wilson. Right, they get nada. Putin knows how to play Tokyo and even the incumbent US administration.

@Jay Wilson

What utter rubbish you do talk. Japan developed fri he ship with the soviets and got nothing in return.

What a train of total nonsense!! In return Japan got massive shipments of oil, timber, ore, fish etc. USSR and Japan had thriving trade relationship, and both parties were very happy.

what would Japan get out of friendship with Russia?

Stable flow of oil and gas without threat from pirates or political unstabilities of Middle East; shorter route to the European markets; friendly neighbour in case of confrontation with China. Good enough for Japan.

People, blinded by hate of other countries, are a sore sight.