Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba will make a three-day trip to the United States from Thursday for his first in-person talks with President Donald Trump in Washington, according to Kyodo news.

The two countries plan to issue a joint statement after the meeting, which is likely to take place Friday, with discussions ongoing about including the "unwavering" U.S. commitment to Japan's defense, according to Japanese government sources.

During the talks, Ishiba intends to outline Japan's efforts to increase defense spending, with apparent consideration that Trump, under his "America First" agenda, is stepping up pressure on NATO members to contribute more to defense, they said.

In a formal announcement of Ishiba's first trip to the United States since becoming prime minister in October, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi expressed hope that the two leaders will build a personal relationship through candid exchanges and share their views on security and economic challenges to elevate bilateral ties to "new heights."

Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will accompany Ishiba to the United States.

Trump has expressed eagerness to reengage with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The two met three times during Trump's first presidency, but their denuclearization negotiations made no progress.