Republican Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis announced that he will make a foreign tour that includes several countries allied to the United States, including Japan and Israel , in an apparent effort to build momentum before his expected candidacy for the 2024 presidential elections.

DeSantis said in a statement that he will visit Japan, South Korea, Israel and Britain, stressing that this tour is an opportunity to "expand economic partnerships" for his US state.

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said that the Republican governor will visit the country on April 24 and 25. He is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida .

According to the statement, DeSantis will also meet Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi for a working dinner on Monday.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declares his intention to run for the US presidential elections in 2024, a pledge to make his state in the south of the United States a laboratory for conservative ideas.

He is seen as one of Donald Trump's leading rivals in the Republican primaries.

While it has been confirmed that the trip is for business opportunities in Florida, it likely appears as an attempt by DeSantis to bolster his diplomatic and national security capabilities.

Tokyo and Seoul are two major allies of Washington in Asia. Israel is also a traditional destination for potential presidential candidates in the United States, especially Republicans.