U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, as a “great leader” during high-level talks in Tokyo that produced key agreements on trade, defense cooperation, and critical minerals.
Meeting at the Akasaka Palace, Trump applauded Takaichi’s pledge to accelerate Japan’s military buildup and her plans to deepen economic ties with Washington.
“Everything I know from Shinzo and others, you will be one of the great prime ministers,” Trump said, referring to the late former leader Shinzo Abe, a close ally of both Trump and Takaichi. “I’d also like to congratulate you on being the first woman prime minister. It’s a big deal.”
The talks culminated in a new agreement on critical minerals and rare earths aimed at reducing dependence on China’s supply chains for materials essential to technologies ranging from smartphones to fighter jets.
The pact commits both countries to identify priority projects in areas such as battery metals and magnet production over the next six months and to coordinate the development of mineral stockpiles.
According to White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, Takaichi also pledged to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his “unprecedented” role in brokering ceasefires in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.
Sources familiar with the discussions said Takaichi’s government is preparing a $550-billion U.S. investment and trade package, which includes shipbuilding cooperation and expanded purchases of American soybeans, natural gas, and pickup trucks.
The move is expected to temper Trump’s calls for Tokyo to increase its defense contributions, even as Takaichi reaffirmed plans to boost Japan’s defense spending to 2% of GDP amid rising tensions with China.
During their meeting, Takaichi presented Trump with symbolic gifts linked to Abe, including the late leader’s golf putter, a gold-leaf golf ball, and a bag signed by Japanese golf star Hideki Matsuyama, underscoring the personal and diplomatic ties between the two allies.
Trump, who last visited the same palace in 2019 for talks with Abe, received a royal welcome on Monday from Emperor Naruhito at the Imperial Palace.
Later on Tuesday, Trump and Takaichi were scheduled to visit the U.S. naval base at Yokosuka, home to the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, before Trump meets Japanese business leaders.
He is set to continue his Asia tour in South Korea on Wednesday, where he plans to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at achieving a truce in the ongoing U.S.-China trade conflict.
Takaichi’s outreach to Trump, and her evocation of Abe’s legacy, is seen as an effort to strengthen her position at home, where her coalition remains two seats short of a parliamentary majority.
Nonetheless, her assertive stance on defense and diplomacy has bolstered her public approval as Japan’s first female leader.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
