U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to block Nippon Steel's $14.9 billion bid for U.S. Steel has created tension ahead of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Japan on Tuesday for farewell meetings with Washington's key ally in Asia, Reuters reports.  

The rejection, announced on Friday, disrupted U.S. efforts to strengthen ties with Japan, just as neighboring South Korea's political crisis threatens to complicate the trilateral alliance between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, aimed at countering China's growing military influence.  

On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba called Biden's decision to block the sale "perplexing." While the move could potentially deter future Japanese investment in the U.S., analysts suggest that the two nations' shared security concerns about China will likely limit the impact on their broader relationship.  

The situation unfolds during a period of political transition in the U.S., with Donald Trump set to take office as president on January 20.