A warm welcome and expressions of solidarity against China likely await U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo this week when he visits East Asia for the first time in over a year, but the looming U.S. election means Asian allies will think twice before making concrete promises to Washington.

Japan and the United States will begin negotiations as early as this week on a cost-sharing agreement for hosting American troops in the Asian country, diplomatic sources said, with Washington expected to pressure Tokyo to significantly increase its contribution.

Trump holds a chart of weapon sales as he welcomes Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office, March 20, 2018. Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered on October 2, 2018 by agents of Saudi Arabia’s despotic government, and the CIA concluded they killed him on direct orders from …