Tokyo: President Donald J. Trump and Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met in Tokyo on Monday, marking the start of a new chapter in U.S.–Japan relations centered on trade, security, and critical mineral cooperation. The meeting, which comes just ahead of Trump’s expected talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, underscored a shared determination to deepen strategic and economic ties amid growing global tensions.
During the discussions, the two leaders signed a key agreement focused on securing supplies of rare earth and other critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on China’s exports in these essential sectors. Both countries emphasized the need to strengthen their supply chains for technology, defense, and clean energy production. The accord represents a significant step toward diversifying global access to these materials, which are vital for producing electric vehicles, semiconductors, and advanced weaponry.
Japan also reaffirmed its plan to raise defense spending to 2 percent of its gross domestic product, aligning more closely with U.S. expectations for regional allies to boost their own security capabilities. Trump praised Takaichi’s leadership, calling her “a strong partner and a great leader,” while reaffirming Washington’s commitment to Japan’s defense under the existing security alliance.
As part of the agreement, Japan pledged roughly 550 billion dollars in new investments and financing in the United States, targeting technology, manufacturing, and energy sectors. The move is expected to support American jobs while giving Japanese industries greater access to U.S. markets. In turn, the U.S. promised continued cooperation on advanced defense systems, including the supply of new missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets.
The two leaders also visited the U.S. naval base at Yokosuka, a symbolic gesture that highlighted the enduring security partnership between the two countries. Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, used the occasion to project confidence both internationally and at home, drawing on the legacy of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, her political mentor who built close ties with Trump during his tenure.
Political observers in Tokyo noted that the meeting provided Takaichi with an important diplomatic success at a time when her coalition government faces domestic pressure and a fragile parliamentary majority. Strengthening Japan’s global role, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, has been central to her early agenda.
The rare earths pact comes as China recently tightened its export controls on critical minerals, raising concerns among U.S. allies about global supply disruptions. The U.S.–Japan deal is seen as a strategic response, signaling that both nations are committed to securing alternative sources and reducing vulnerability to geopolitical risks.
Trump’s Asia tour will continue in South Korea, where he is set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss trade and security matters. Analysts suggest the timing of the Japan talks reflects a broader strategy by Washington to reinforce alliances before engaging Beijing on contentious economic and regional issues.
The Tokyo meeting concluded with a message of shared determination to strengthen the alliance and promote stability across the Indo-Pacific. Both leaders described the partnership as entering “a new golden age,” rooted in mutual trust and a common vision for peace, prosperity, and technological progress.