Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi has described the US-Japan security relationship as the “greatest alliance in the world,” adding that Japan was “ready to contribute to world peace and stability.”
This came as US President, Donald Trump met Takaichi, Japan’s first female Prime Minister, in Tokyo, welcoming her pledge to accelerate a military buildup.
Trump is in Japan on the second leg of a week-long tour of Asia. He met Emperor Naruhito for a second time at the Imperial palace shortly after arriving in Japan on Monday evening.
In the meeting, Trump welcomed Japan’s orders for US-made military hardware, adding that the two economies would do “a lot of trade.”
Trump lavished praise on Takaichi, saying that she would be a “great” leader, while the Prime Minister said that she planned to nominate the US President for a Nobel Peace Prize, according to the White House.
“Everything I know from Shinzo and others, you will be one of the great prime ministers. I’d also like to congratulate you on being the first woman prime minister. It’s a big deal.”
Donald Trump
Takaichi said that Trump’s role in securing ceasefires between Cambodia and Thailand, and Israel and Palestinian armed groups were “unprecedented” achievements.
“In such a short period of time, the world started to enjoy more peace. I, myself, was so impressed and inspired by you, Mr President.”
Sanae Takaichi
According to reports, Takaichi, a close ally of Trump’s friend and golfing partner, late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, is also expected to offer a package of US investments under a $550bn deal agreed on this year.
This included shipbuilding and increased purchases of US soya beans, natural gas and pick-up trucks.
Takaichi gifted Trump Abe’s putter, a golf bag signed by Japanese major winner Hideki Matsuyama, and a gold-leaf golf ball, according to photos posted on X by Trump’s Assistant, Margo Martin.
Trump, Japan’s Takaichi Sign Deal To Secure Rare Earths Supply
The leaders then signed an agreement to support the supply of critical minerals and rare earths, as the countries seek to wean reliance off China’s chokehold on the materials, which are crucial for a wide range of products, from smartphones to fighter jets.
It follows China’s recent decision to tighten export controls on the materials, which are crucial for a wide range of products.
The White House, in a statement, said that the countries plan to cooperate through use of economic policy and coordinated investment to accelerate development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals and rare earths.
He said that the objective of the deal was “to assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals and rare earths supply chains.”
It added that the US and Japan “jointly identify projects of interest to address gaps in supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths, including derivative products such as permanent magnets, batteries, catalysts, and optical materials.”
Trump and Takaichi will later visit the US naval base in Yokosuka near Tokyo, which is home to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, part of the US military’s powerful presence in the region.
Trump will then meet business leaders in Tokyo, before travelling on Wednesday to South Korea. Trump is scheduled to meet China’s Xi Jinping in South Korea for high stakes talks amid a bruising trade war.
In talks there with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said that he hopes to seal a trade war truce between the world’s two biggest economies.
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