'A heck of an ally': DeSantis begins world tour by praising Japan, bristling at Trump rivalry

WASHINGTON – Facing political troubles in the United States, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicked off a four-nation tour meant to bolster his foreign policy credentials by touting the role of Japan in a ''tough neighborhood'' and dismissing questions about his rivalry with former President Donald Trump.

''I think Japan’s been a heck of an ally for our country, and I think a strong Japan is good for America, and I think a strong America is good for Japan," DeSantis said as he met with Japanese leaders Monday.

Asked by a reporter about Trump and the 2024 GOP presidential race, DeSantis said: "I'm not a candidate, so we'll see if and when that changes."

DeSantis's trip to Japan, South Korea, Israel and United Kingdom comes ahead of an expected announcement of a 2024 presidential bid next month. He already faces headwinds that include steady attacks from Trump, who is besting him in polls.

Trump on Monday mocked the DeSantis trip, saying in a Truth Social post that his potential challenger is traveling "in order to up his game and see if he can remove the stain from his failing campaign. Bad poll numbers!"

DeSantis ads: PAC backing Ron DeSantis to air ads in early states: Iowa, New Hampshire, S.C., Nevada

DeSantis in D.C.: After latest Disney fight, Ron DeSantis visits Republican allies in DC amid attacks from Trump

Meetings with Asian leaders

The Florida governor is meeting with two Asian prime ministers during visits to their countries, Fumio Kishida of Japan and Han Duck-soo of South Korea.

Calling the region a "tough neighborhood,'' DeSantis praised Japan's defense spending in a region on guard for North Korean nuclear threats and Chinese dominance.

"We very much applaud your efforts to bolster your defenses," he told the prime minister of Japan. "We understand it's a tough neighborhood out here."

DeSantis is not yet scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a stop in the United Kingdom. He is instead scheduled to speak with Foreign Minister James Cleverly.

DeSantis in Israel

The candidate who pledged to be the most "pro-Israel" governor in the U.S. is scheduled to speak Thursday at an event to mark the 75th anniversary of the creation of Israel.

DeSantis travels to Israel at a time of political turmoil over a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to change the nation's judicial system.

The DeSantis schedule includes meetings with Netanyahu and other "government leaders." DeSantis also plans to meet with "Israeli companies that have invested or are interested in investing in Florida."

Domestic politics

DeSantis, who is considered Trump's most formidable challenger for next year's Republican nomination, goes abroad at a fraught time in his still-to-be-announced presidential campaign.

A Wall Street Journal poll released Friday gave Trump a lead of 51%-38% over DeSantis among likely GOP primary voters. DeSantis led that poll by 14 percentage points in December.

In recent weeks, DeSantis has been criticized by Trump and other Republicans over his long-running clash with Disney, his impersonal campaign style, and his lack of experience on the national stage.

Image abroad

Overseas, some international allies expressed dismay with DeSantis over past comments questioning the level of U.S. military aid to Ukraine as it defends itself against the Russian invasion.

In making this trip, "he's trying to correct the image problem he's created for himself," said Aaron David Miller, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Who else has visited Israel during presidential campaigns?

Presidential candidates in previous election cycles have gone abroad to demonstrate their fluency with foreign policy.

In late 1998, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush geared up for his presidential campaign by making his first trip to Israel. Then-Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., having clinched the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination, made a highly publicized trip that featured stops in Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.

What could go wrong?

The challenge on such trips is to avoid making a mistake.

In 2012, Republican nominee-in-waiting Mitt Romney questioned security arrangements for the Summer Olympics in London. His comments drew rebukes from British officials, including the London mayor at the time, Boris Johnson, who went to become the British prime minister.

Miller, a State Department negotiator during Republican and Democratic administrations, said DeSantis needs to avoid making news of the wrong kind overseas.

"There's plenty that could wrong publicly in all of these spots," Miller said. "Bigger stage, bigger headache if he stumbles."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ron DeSantis praises Japan, dismisses Trump rivalry on foreign trip