New York, Sept. 22 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday confirmed their countries’ strong ties ahead of Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping set for Thursday. In their 35-minute talks, Takaichi, who is on a U.S. trip, and Trump agreed to elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance further through enhanced cooperation in economic security, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors and critical minerals. She raised the issue of the International Criminal Court, under attack from Trump, who has called on member states to quit The Hague-based body. Takaichi expressed her support for the ICC, emphasizing the importance of the rule of law, sources who accompanied her on the U.S. visit said, adding that the two leaders had “frank” exchanges. At the beginning of the meeting, Takaichi stressed the significance of their discussions, stating, “At a time when the security environment is extremely severe, including in Asia, we will show the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance to the world.” Trump praised the Takaichi administration, saying that Japan is “doing well,” and Takaichi will be “one of the greatest prime ministers” in the country. The leaders agreed to promote efforts to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of their countries’ alliance and implement the bilateral tariff agreement steadily. They also shared the view that complete denuclearization of North Korea is necessary. Trump expressed his full support for the Japanese government in resolving the issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea decades ago. Takaichi said that she retained key ministers responsible for Japan-U.S. relations, such as Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi, Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama and Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa, in a cabinet reshuffle last week. “I want to further deepen the personal relationships between our respective policy leaders and make the Japan-U.S. alliance unshakable,” she told Trump. This was the fourth face-to-face meeting between Takaichi and Trump and the first since the session held on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in June. Other participants in Tuesday’s meeting included Motegi and Keiichi Ichikawa, head of the National Security Secretariat, from Japan, as well as U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
