Japan’s Takaichi Holds First Phone Call with Trump: “Agreed to Elevate the Alliance to a New Level”

Financial News Tokyo – Sanae Takaichi, the new Prime Minister of Japan, held her first phone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on the 25th (local time) following her inauguration. She emphasized, “Strengthening the U.S.-Japan Alliance is the top priority in this administration’s foreign and security policy,” adding, “Both leaders agreed to work together to elevate the alliance to a new level.”
According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun (The Nikkei) on the 26th, Prime Minister Takaichi spoke to reporters at a hotel in Malaysia after a ten-minute phone call with President Trump the previous day.
Prime Minister Takaichi departed for Malaysia via Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport) that day to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
She stated, “Japan is a very important country in the United States’ Indo-Pacific Strategy and China policy,” and added, “I proposed to President Trump that we closely cooperate to realize the Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP) initiative.” She also noted that they discussed cooperation on resolving the issue of Japanese citizens abducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the situation in the Middle East.
The Nikkei also reported that the two leaders discussed the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. President Trump remarked that Prime Minister Takaichi was "a politician cherished by Mr. Abe."
On the 24th, while en route to Malaysia aboard Air Force One, President Trump told reporters, “We have an excellent relationship with Japan, and I expect to build a great relationship with Prime Minister Takaichi as well.”
He also said, “Prime Minister Takaichi is a friend of the late former Prime Minister Abe, who was a great figure. Former Prime Minister Abe was my friend and he was very fond of her.”
Prime Minister Takaichi described President Trump, with whom she spoke by phone that day, as “a very energetic and pleasant person.”
She also wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that her conversation with President Trump was “good and candid.”
Meanwhile, President Trump is scheduled to visit Japan from the 27th to the 29th and will hold a U.S.-Japan summit on the 28th.
In response to Prime Minister Takaichi’s welcoming remarks regarding his visit to Japan, President Trump said, “I look forward to meeting you in person.”

sjmary@fnnews.com Seo Hye-jin Reporter