TOKYO -- Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi departed Thursday for a visit to four countries in Central America and the Caribbean to help the U.S. counteract Chinese influence in Washington's backyard.
Motegi is set to arrive in Guatemala, then visit Panama and Cuba before wrapping up his trip in Jamaica. While in Guatemala, he will join a virtual meeting Friday local time with counterparts from the eight-member Central American Integration System. On Tuesday local time, he will participate in a meeting of foreign ministers from the Caribbean Community.
