U.S. President Donald Trump praised Japan’s first female prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, during a state visit to Tokyo, calling her “one of the great prime ministers” as the two leaders unveiled a joint framework on trade and critical minerals.
The meeting, held at the Akasaka Palace on 28 October, marked Trump’s first overseas visit since returning to the White House. Standing beside Takaichi at a press conference, he described Japan as “a very special ally” and congratulated her on breaking political ground. The Japanese leader, a long-time conservative and protégé of the late Shinzo Abe, was elected earlier this month following Fumio Kishida’s resignation.
During the talks, both sides signed an economic security accord aimed at reinforcing supply chains for rare earths and critical minerals used in electronics, renewable energy, and defence systems. The White House described the pact as a commitment to build “diversified, secure, and fair” markets for materials currently dominated by Chinese processing.
Trump said the partnership would “strengthen both nations’ economic resilience”, while Takaichi emphasised that Japan and the U.S. “share the responsibility to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.”
Under the agreement, Japan will contribute to a reported US $550 billion investment package in the United States, covering shipbuilding, energy, and agricultural imports. In return, the U.S. will back Japanese industrial participation in rare-earth processing and defence-technology production.
According to Reuters, the framework expands on earlier U.S.–Japan cooperation on mineral stockpiling and export diversification, reflecting both countries’ efforts to reduce reliance on China, which handles more than 90 per cent of global rare-earth refining. The Guardian reported that the deal’s timing — days before Trump’s planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea — underscores Washington’s strategic use of trade agreements to reinforce alliances.
Takaichi used the occasion to confirm plans to raise defence spending to 2 per cent of GDP and to deepen cooperation on energy security. The announcement aligns with her campaign pledge to maintain Japan’s military modernisation and to pursue “economic strength through secure partnerships.”
The visit also carried symbolic weight. Trump praised Takaichi’s ascent as “a big deal”, crediting Abe’s influence on her leadership style, and referred to her appointment as proof of Japan’s “forward momentum.” The prime minister presented the U.S. leader with a set of lacquerware made in Abe’s home prefecture, describing it as “a gift of friendship and continuity.”
Analysts said the agreement could mark a new phase in U.S.–Japan relations, binding Tokyo more closely to Washington’s economic-security strategy. With both governments now prioritising supply-chain resilience, the partnership signals a shift in how trade, investment, and defence policy are being woven together across the Indo-Pacific.
The Akasaka summit concluded with the two leaders pledging to meet again early next year to review implementation of the framework. Trump closed the visit by telling reporters that “anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there.”
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