Japan PM Holds First Call with Trump, Pledges Stronger Indo-Pacific Cooperation
Takaichi declares US-Japan bond her top priority.
Japan’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her inaugural phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Saturday, emphatically declaring that strengthening the Japan-US alliance stands as the cornerstone of her administration’s foreign and security policy. The call, conducted while both leaders traveled to Malaysia for regional summits, underscored Tokyo’s critical role in Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, particularly in countering China’s growing influence.
According to an official statement on Takaichi’s website, she told Trump that Japan remains an indispensable partner in America’s regional vision. The two leaders pledged to elevate the bilateral alliance to unprecedented levels, building on decades of military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation. Trump extended congratulations on her appointment last Tuesday and fondly recalled her political mentor, the late Shinzo Abe, whose close relationship with the US president had deepened security ties.
Speaking from Malaysia ahead of the ASEAN-related forums, Takaichi described Trump as cheerful and engaging, signaling personal rapport that could ease upcoming negotiations. Trump, calling from Air Force One en route to the same destination, confirmed a formal summit with Takaichi in Tokyo on Tuesday—his first bilateral meeting with a foreign leader since returning to office.
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The conversation comes amid heightened tensions in the Indo-Pacific, with joint concerns over China’s maritime assertiveness, North Korea’s missile provocations, and supply chain vulnerabilities. Japan, under Takaichi’s conservative leadership, is expected to push for increased defense spending, deeper intelligence sharing, and expanded joint military exercises with US forces.
As Trump prepares to land in Tokyo, the alliance—long hailed as the linchpin of regional stability—faces a pivotal moment. With Takaichi prioritizing the partnership and Trump eager to project strength, their summit could yield new agreements on technology, energy, and collective defense, reshaping power dynamics across Asia for years to come.
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