After a difficult week for his national political ambitions, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is departing this week for a series of visits to allied nations — an opportunity for the Republican to make his international debut as a potential presidential candidate.
According to DeSantis’s office, the official purpose of his international travel is a “international trade mission.” DeSantis, first lady Casey DeSantis, and two administration representatives will travel to Japan, South Korea, Israel, and the United Kingdom to meet with officials and discuss potential business partnerships.
Kishida hoped DeSantis’ “visit to Japan will further strengthen Japan-US and Japan-Florida relations.”
“This trade mission will give us the opportunity to strengthen economic relationships and continue to demonstrate Florida’s position as an economic leader,” the governor stated in a Thursday news release.
Monday, DeSantis met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo, where they discussed “regional affairs.” According to a statement released by the Japanese foreign ministry on Monday, Kishida expressed his optimism that DeSantis’ “visit to Japan will further strengthen Japan-US and Japan-Florida relations.”
While in Israel, DeSantis will also deliver the keynote address at an event hosted by The Jerusalem Post and the Jerusalem Museum of Tolerance. The visit coincides with heightened tensions between the United States and its Middle Eastern ally over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial reform proposal.
