Japan’s PM Takaichi and Trump Discuss Strengthening US-Japan Alliance
Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi engaged in discussions with US President Donald Trump, reaching an agreement to bolster the bilateral alliance during their initial telephone conversation, as per reports. The telephone call between the two leaders took place on October 25 during their participation in Asean-related Summit meetings in Kuala Lumpur. The call, lasting around 10 minutes, centered on enhancing bilateral relations and regional collaboration, as noted in remarks shared on the official website of the Japanese premier. Trump extended his congratulations to Takaichi on her new role, emphasizing that “strengthening the Japan-US Alliance is a top priority of Japan’s foreign and security policy.” The two leaders affirmed their commitment to work together in order to further enhance the Japan-US Alliance.
Takaichi further stated that Japan is “an indispensable partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific” and conveyed her commitment to collaborating towards the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The Japanese premier’s official website emphasized her respect for President Trump’s leadership in securing the agreement in West Asia. During the call, Prime Minister Takaichi emphasized the need for ongoing understanding and cooperation from the US “for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.” Both leaders conveyed their eagerness for an in-person meeting, with Takaichi expressing her enthusiasm to welcome Trump to Japan, while the US President remarked on his anticipation to meet Prime Minister Takaichi face-to-face.
Trump is set to embark on a three-day visit to Japan beginning Monday, which will feature their inaugural in-person discussions, according to the sources, which connects the recent telephone conversation to the upcoming bilateral engagement. This forthcoming visit will signify Trump’s initial journey to Japan in almost six years. Takaichi, who secured the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s presidential election on October 4, became Japan’s first woman prime minister on Tuesday, succeeding Shigeru Ishiba. In a routine press briefing on Wednesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated that Trump is anticipated to meet with Emperor Naruhito. “President Trump’s visit is an extremely meaningful opportunity to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Kihara added, noting that Takaichi’s administration “sincerely welcomes” the trip, according to the sources.
Takaichi is acknowledged for her conservative policies and hawkish security views, reflecting the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who fostered a close relationship with Trump during his first US term beginning in 2017. Trump, who resumed his position in the White House for a second term in January, last visited Japan in 2019 for the Group of 20 summit held in Osaka. With Takaichi now officially elected Prime Minister by parliament on Tuesday, becoming Japan’s first woman leader, the upcoming visit is anticipated to further strengthen US-Japan relations,as per sources. Takaichi secured a decisive victory in the first round of voting in the Lower House, amassing 237 votes, while Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, received 149 votes, according to the reports. As per reports, 64-year-old Takaichi secured 237 of the 465 votes cast in the lower house of Parliament, thereby becoming Japan’s prime minister. The new prime minister confronts several challenges, including a sluggish economy and the imperative to unify the ruling party, which has been shaken by scandals and internal strife.
