Donald Trump has been officially announced as the victor of the 2024 US presidential elections, paving the way for his return to the White House in 2025. This news has been met with swift reactions from America’s allies in the Asia-Pacific region, who previously had a tumultuous relationship during Trump’s initial term. Despite this, they have been quick to extend their congratulations and assure that their bilateral relationships will remain unaffected.

Japan’s Prime Minister, Ishiba Shigeru, extended his deepest congratulations to Trump via a social media platform. He expressed his eagerness to collaborate closely with Trump to reinforce the bond between Japan and the US and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Foreign Ministry of Japan confirmed that Ishiba had also dispatched a formal congratulatory letter to Trump, echoing the same sentiments.

Earlier reports from Japanese media suggested that Ishiba may be planning an early visit to the US to engage with the president-elect before or after attending two multilateral summits in South America in mid-November. This mirrors the actions of Japan’s former Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo, who was the first global leader to meet with then President-elect Trump in 2016. Abe managed to largely maintain a steady Japan-US relationship by fostering a close rapport with Trump.

However, Ishiba’s potential close working relationship with Trump could be complicated by the fact that his Liberal Democratic Party lost its majority in the October 27 general elections. The shape of Japan’s next government is still uncertain as intense coalition talks are ongoing.

In South Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol also publicly congratulated Trump. Yoon, who has been relying on the US for security cooperation in response to North Korea’s increasingly aggressive tactics, is looking forward to working closely with Trump.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te expressed his confidence in the continued flourish of Taiwan-US relations. In a social media post, he offered his sincere congratulations to Trump, expressing his belief in the enduring Taiwan-US partnership which will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability and lead to greater prosperity for all.

While these statements of congratulations were forthcoming, none were as effusive as the praise given to Trump by leaders from Central Asia. This could indicate a sense of apprehension among US allies, or simply a reluctance to resort to flattery.