Tokyo: Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is facing her first major diplomatic and political test as she prepares to welcome U.S. President Donald Trump to Tokyo in the coming days. The meeting will serve as an early gauge of how Japan’s new conservative government balances its bold defense ambitions with the realities of alliance politics, domestic constraints, and regional tensions.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, entered office on a platform of strong national defense and self-reliance. A longtime member of the Liberal Democratic Party’s nationalist wing, she has pledged to accelerate Japan’s military build-up, push through constitutional revisions, and modernize the country’s security strategy.
However, her administration begins under a cloud of political uncertainty. Her ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lost its lower-house majority in recent elections, forcing her to rely on cooperation with the more hawkish Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) after breaking with the pacifist-leaning Komeito. This new coalition gives her more freedom to pursue defense reform, but it also risks alienating moderate voters and weakening legislative stability.
President Trump’s upcoming visit will be Takaichi’s first major test on the global stage. Analysts expect the former U.S. president to press Tokyo to increase defense spending beyond the current 2% of GDP goal and to commit to further purchases of American-made weapons systems. Trump is also likely to push Japan to take on a greater share of the financial burden for hosting U.S. troops stationed in the country.
For Takaichi, the challenge will be to reaffirm Japan’s commitment to the U.S.–Japan security alliance without appearing subservient or compromising her vision of a more autonomous national defense. The meeting is expected to include discussions on Indo-Pacific strategy, deterrence against China and North Korea, and the development of new joint defense technologies.
Under Takaichi’s leadership, Japan’s government has already signaled its intention to revise national security documents ahead of schedule and expedite key defense programs. These include developing counterstrike capabilities, enhancing missile defenses, and upgrading naval and air assets for long-range operations.
Her administration also intends to expand partnerships with key regional allies such as Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines, as part of a broader Indo-Pacific security framework that complements rather than solely depends on the U.S. alliance.
Despite her assertive stance, Takaichi faces strong domestic resistance from opposition parties and segments of the public wary of eroding Japan’s pacifist constitution. With economic growth slowing and household costs rising, critics argue that steep increases in defense spending could worsen fiscal strain and divert resources from social programs.
Diplomatically, Tokyo’s shifting posture has already raised concerns in Beijing. China’s foreign ministry has warned Japan against taking “provocative steps” that could destabilize regional security. Takaichi, however, insists that Japan’s military modernization is defensive in nature and aimed at ensuring “peace through strength.”
The meeting with President Trump could define both the trajectory of Takaichi’s premiership and the future of Japan’s security doctrine. If she succeeds in navigating the discussion skillfully projecting strength while maintaining alliance harmony she may consolidate her leadership and gain momentum to pursue constitutional reform. A misstep, however, could expose the fragility of her coalition and invite criticism from both domestic opponents and regional rivals.
As one Tokyo-based analyst observed, “This is more than a diplomatic courtesy call it’s a stress test for Japan’s new identity under Takaichi: a country that wants to be both a loyal ally and a self-reliant power.”
For now, all eyes are on Tokyo as the new prime minister prepares to balance ambition with pragmatism, power with diplomacy, and national pride with global partnership.