Takaichi Vows More Defense Spending in Talks with Trump

Tokyo, Oct. 28 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, in her first face-to-face meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, expressed her determination to continue working to significantly boost Japan’s defense capabilities and increase related spending. Takaichi called for creating a “new golden age” of the Japan-U.S. alliance together. Trump, on his first visit to Japan in six years, responded, “We are an ally at the strongest level.” In the roughly 90-minute summit at the State Guest House, Akasaka Palace, in Tokyo, which included a working lunch, the prime minister said that “Japan and the United States will jointly contribute to world peace and prosperity.” The two leaders agreed to seek the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific region and affirmed further cooperation with like-minded countries including South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and India. Trump expressed gratitude for Japan’s increased defense spending and its purchases of U.S. military equipment. Takaichi told reporters at her office Tuesday evening that Trump did not speak about the specific size of defense spending he sought from Japan. She and the U.S. president also discussed regional issues, including China and North Korea. They shared their views on Beijing and affirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, ahead of a U.S.-China summit meeting in South Korea on Thursday. Takaichi and Trump confirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, after the president recently referred to Pyongyang as a nuclear power. They also discussed ways to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They confirmed that they will expand collaboration in the field of economic security, including the procurement of rare earths and other critical minerals, the development of key technologies such as artificial intelligence, and the enhancement of shipbuilding capacity. Following the meeting, Takaichi and Trump signed documents on ensuring supply chains of critical minerals and on the steady implementation of the bilateral tariff agreement. It was Trump’s first visit to Japan in his second administration. He last came to the country in 2019 to attend the Group of 20 summit in the western city of Osaka. He is scheduled to leave Japan on Wednesday. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]