Donald Trump Warns 'Dictators,' 'Regimes' During Asia Visit, Expects To Meet Putin

President Donald Trump kicked off his five-nation Asia tour by visiting Japan for the first time since he was elected president.

Speaking to a gathering after landing at Yokota Air Base on the outskirts of Tokyo, Trump touted the U.S.-Japan alliance and the firepower possessed by the United States.

"Japan is a treasured partner and crucial ally of the United States and today we thank them for welcoming us and for decades of wonderful friendship between our two nations," he said, speaking inside an airplane hangar after donning a bomber jacket.

"On behalf of the United States of America, I send the warmest wishes of the America people to the citizens of this remarkable country," he added, the Guardian reported.

He also said, "no dictator" should underestimate the U.S., in what seemed like a veiled reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"You are the greatest threat to tyrants and dictators who seek to prey on the innocent," he said, and added that dictator regimes could also take the route "towards prosperity and peace."

Although he did not name North Korea, Trump told the audience of service members: "No one, no dictator, no regime … should underestimate American resolve."

He also praised U.S. servicemen and women and their counterparts from Japan and said in another remark possibly directed towards Pyongyang that U.S. forces would "always, always win. This is the heritage of the US.. armed forces, the greatest force for freedom and justice that the world has ever known."

Trump added that the alliance between the U.S. and Japan had been the cornerstone of regional security for the past six decades. He said: "We dominate the sky, we dominate the sea, we dominate the land and space." Later, he also told the troops that they would receive a lot more equipment for defense operations. "No one makes it like they make it in the U.S. A lot of stuff is coming — use it well."

He then traveled by helicopter to a private golf course north of Tokyo for an informal lunch with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe followed by a round of golf.

According to CNBC, Abe said he welcomed the visit as a chance to deepen ties between the two countries by building upon the "friendship and trust" between the two leaders which was furthered by several meetings that included a previous round of golf in Florida earlier this year.

"I hope we will be able to have thorough discussions about international issues, including North Korea," he told reporters before the U.S. president’s arrival.

Prior to landing in Japan, Trump also talked to reporters aboard Air Force One and said he also planned on meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin during his trip. "I think it's expected that we will meet," he said. "We want Putin's help on North Korea."

The private meeting is expected to happen on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Danang, Vietnam, the Hindu reported.

According to CNBC one of the objectives of the trip was bringing leaders of Japan and South Korea against North Korea before Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping to present the case that he take more action against Pyongyang.

Another focal point is convincing the Asian leaders to agree to trade policies that are more favorable to the United States.

"One of the things we're going to be very focused on is trade because trade has not been done well for 25 years by the United States with this part of the world, with any part of the world," he said on Air Force One.

"We're going to be discussing reciprocal trade. Fair, free but reciprocal," he added.