by Dramelin 8:00 AM 0 comments

A White House official said Mr. Trump was paying for Mr. Abe and his wife to travel to Mar-a-Lago for the weekend, as a ?gift? to the leader. But it could prove awkward, after a show of d?tente on Thursday night between Mr. Trump and President Xi Jinping of China. Mr. Abe?s visit could fuel suspicions in Beijing that Mr. Trump intends to make Japan, rather than China, the focal point of his engagement with Asia. PhotoWASHINGTON ? President Trump plans on Friday to pledge close security and economic cooperation with Japan, opening an elaborate multiday work-and-play visit with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that is intended to showcase a warm rapport with a central player in Asia. Mr. Abe was the first foreign leader to visit Mr. Trump after his election in November, and they have spoken a number of times since then, according to the officials, who previewed the visit on the condition of anonymity to avoid pre-empting the talks.