TOKYO, May 28 -- The leaders of Japan and the United States jointly inspected a Japanese destroyer on Tuesday at the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on the final day of Trump's four-day state visit to Japan.
At a joint speech to address the 500 Japanese and U.S. personnel inside the hangar of the "JS Kaga" helicopter carrier, the second constructed ship in the Izumo class of the Japan MSDF, the leaders expressed their solidarity and commitment to peace and prosperity in the region.
Abe reiterated the two leaders' stance throughout Trump's visit that the bilateral alliance between both countries remained firm, and stated that Japan was committed to "playing its role with unwavering commitment toward further strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance."
On Japan's plans to buy an additional 105 U.S.-made 5th generation F-35 stealth fighters, some of which will be able to operate from the constitutionally questionable Izumo class of "de facto" aircraft carriers once they are retrofitted, Trump was praiseworthy.
"This purchase will give Japan the largest fleet of F-35s of any of our allies," Trump said.
The U.S. president also visited the USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship, which is currently docked at the U.S. Yokosuka naval base, located next to the MSDF base and home to the U.S. 7th Fleet.
During an address to U.S. service people for the Memorial Day, Trump vowed to continue to modernize the U.S. military through his administration's policy of "peace through strength", as he put it.
Trump and first lady Melania departed from Haneda airport in Tokyo to Washington on Tuesday afternoon.
The Trumps arrived in Tokyo on Saturday and stayed at the Palace Hotel Tokyo, near the Imperial Palace in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward.
On Sunday, Abe and Trump hit the links at the Mobara Country Club in Mobara, in Tokyo's neighboring prefecture of Chiba.
On Sunday afternoon, Trump watched the final-day matches of the Summer Grand Sumo Tournament at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in Tokyo and presented a new winner's trophy.
Afterwards, Trump and Melania dined with Abe and his wife, Akie, at a robatayaki (Hokkaido-style charcoal grill) restaurant in the Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo.
From Monday morning, at the State Guesthouse at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, Abe and Trump sat down for summit talks and the two leaders delivered a joint news conference in the afternoon on issues spanning trade, defense and geopolitics, including those related to U.S. tensions with Iran.
Trump was also invited to meet Emperor Naruhito and attend an imperial banquet with the new emperor at the Imperial Palace on Monday, making him the first state guest to meet the new emperor since his ascension in early May.
Abe and Trump will meet again at the Group of 20 meeting in Osaka next month, where issues of trade are likely to be high on the agenda.
Political analysts, despite some pertinent points being made during the summit talks between the leaders and the press conference thereafter, believe hosting the Trumps as state guests was part of a well-orchestrated charm offensive to garner support for Japan hosting the G-20, as well as to try and ensure a favorable bilateral trade deal with the United States despite the hefty deficit.
In addition, Japan is looking to the U.S. for support in de-escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf and for Abe's push to meet the leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un.