Japan's incoming prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, will likely name former Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya as foreign minister when he forms his government this week, two people with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Sunday.

Japan ’s former defence minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has won the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) presidential election at his fifth and final attempt, defeating economic security minister Sanae Takaichi in a runoff vote.

Ishiba will succeed Fumio Kishida, who reshaped Japan’s role in the international community but last month announced he would step down amid record-low approval ratings.