After the impromptu 90-minute meeting at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Abe expressed confidence to reporters that a trustful relationship could be established. However, he refrained from sharing details of the conversation as it was an unofficial discussion. The meeting took place at a time when Japan's leadership was concerned about the strength of their alliance with the US, which is crucial to Tokyo's diplomacy and security. Abe and other leaders in Asia were unsettled by Trump's campaign promises to make allies pay more for US forces' assistance, suggesting Japan should have its own nuclear weapons, and his strong opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. The upcoming transition of power from Democratic President Barack Obama to Republican President-elect Trump is scheduled for Jan 20. Abe described his discussion with President-elect Trump as open and friendly, emphasizing the importance of trust in alliances. He expressed confidence in Trump's leadership and agreed to meet again to discuss a wider range of topics. It is uncertain if this meeting will take place before Trump's inauguration. Kellyanne Conway stated that more in-depth talks about policy and the Japan-US relationship will have to wait until after the inauguration. Trump officials did not provide an immediate response after meeting with Abe. Abe, an experienced lawmaker who collaborated with Obama on the TPP trade pact, was a key part of both Obama's strategy to counter China's growing influence and Abe's economic reforms. Abe and Trump exchanged golfing gear as gifts during their meeting, as stated by the Japanese government. Photos from the meeting at Trump Tower showed Abe, an interpreter, Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and Retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn. A senior Trump official announced on Thursday that Flynn had been offered the position of national security adviser. A source familiar with the offer told Reuters that it was uncertain whether Flynn had accepted the job, but emphasized that when the president-elect asks you to serve, there is only one answer. The Pentagon spokesman mentioned that the Defense Department would conduct its first military briefing for Trump transition officials on Friday as the incoming Trump administration prepares to take office on Jan 20. Other Obama administration agencies, such as the Justice Department, were also taking similar steps. Democrats in Congress continued to criticize Trump's selection of right-wing firebrand Stephen Bannon as senior counsellor, as Trump, a political outsider, focused on filling senior positions in his administration after winning last week's election. A representative for Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader of the House of Representatives, stated that she encouraged Vice President-elect Mike Pence to reconsider a certain appointment during their meeting. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been holding meetings at Trump Tower to discuss potential candidates for key positions in his administration. Trump is scheduled to meet with Mitt Romney, the Republican nominee in the 2012 presidential election, on Saturday to possibly discuss appointing him as secretary of state, according to a source familiar with the meeting. This potential development is surprising, as Romney had previously criticized Trump and urged Republicans not to support him during the presidential nomination process. During his campaign, Trump ridiculed Romney by claiming he "choked like a dog" in his failed 2012 presidential bid against Barack Obama. Japanese Finance Minister Taro Aso stated that it was advantageous for Abe to meet with Trump before he officially becomes president, emphasizing the significance of Japan-US relations. Abe's adviser Katsuyuki Kawai mentioned speaking with Trump's advisers and lawmakers in Washington, who advised not to take Trump's public statements too literally. Abe has increased Japan's defense spending and expanded the military's global role despite the constraints of the country's pacifist constitution. Defense spending in Japan remains just above 1 percent of GDP, as opposed to the United States' spending of over 3 percent. The US is expected to allocate $5.745 billion for American forces in Japan in the current fiscal year of 2017. Japan's Defense Ministry reported that Tokyo's expenses for US troops stationed in Japan amounted to around 720 billion yen ($6.6 billion) in the previous fiscal year. During his campaign, Trump's rhetoric towards Japan reflected a perception from the 1980s, when Japan was viewed as a job threat and a burden on defense by many Americans. However, a Trump adviser recently expressed a more positive outlook on Japan. "He stated that the prime minister has been more assertive and direct in attempting to make changes to Japan's global stance. Abe was scheduled to meet with Obama at a summit in Peru over the weekend. Prior to Abe's meeting with Trump, John Kerry and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met in Lima to discuss the Paris climate agreement - a deal that Trump has vowed to withdraw from. Some diplomats believe that it will be difficult to evaluate Trump's policies on security issues such as the deployment of US troops overseas, China's assertiveness in maritime matters, and the North Korean nuclear threat until he makes key appointments."