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US and Japan want to expand alliance

2025-10-29 08:18:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

With a state visit to Tokyo, US President Donald Trump demonstrates strength towards China ahead of his meeting with President Xi Jinping.

A "new golden age" is approaching for the US-Japan alliance that will make both countries "stronger and more prosperous," according to a statement signed by US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday (October 28, 2025) in Tokyo. There, Trump made the second stop on his Asian trip, after Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and then also South Korea. The two politicians signed an agreement on strategically important raw materials. In addition, the two sides published a list of projects in the fields of energy, artificial intelligence and critical technologies. Japanese companies want to invest up to $ 400 billion in the United States.

Trump used the visit to the US's closest ally in East Asia to show his strength ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Together with Takaichi, he flew to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the port of Yokosuka. In front of US Navy soldiers, Takaichi called for a "free and open" Indo-Pacific, and Trump declared: "Nobody has our weapons, and very soon our country will be even stronger and more powerful than ever before." He ended the performance by dancing to the song "YMCA."

Takaichi, good host

Host Takaichi spared no effort to establish a good relationship with Trump in their first personal meeting. To achieve this, the 64-year-old repeatedly played the strong card of her predecessor, Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, was a close friend of Trump during his first term, and Trump continues to honor his memory to this day. The nationalist Abe was a mentor to Takaichi, who considers herself his political heir. At their first meeting, she gave Abe’s golf club to Trump. The two politicians had played golf together on several occasions. Other small gestures were intended to show that Japan had paid attention to the White House’s signals.

During the lunch, Trump and Takaichi were served American rice for risotto and an American beef steak. This was a symbol of Japan's desire to import more American agricultural products, something Trump had requested, especially in the case of rice and beef. Specifically, Japan offered the US the opportunity to buy more soybeans and natural gas, as well as a fleet of American pickup trucks.

Weapons spending increases

For the rest, the Japanese side stroked the president's ego whenever possible. Takaichi praised Trump's role in securing ceasefire agreements between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as between Israel and Hamas. According to her, these were "unprecedented" achievements. According to the White House, Takaichi will also nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The conservative politician has previously made a good case for Trump. On Friday (October 24, 2025), she announced in parliament that Japan would increase defense spending to 2% of GDP in the fiscal year ending in March. Until now, Japan had not planned to reach that goal until 2027. Trump was quick to praise Japan for "significantly" increasing its military capabilities.

The United States has already received Japanese orders "for a large amount of new military equipment," he said. Deliveries of US missiles for Japan's long-awaited F-35 fighter jets will begin this week. At the same time, he assured Japan of the US's full support: "We are allies at the highest level." He has always loved and respected Japan very much. He praised Takaichi on several occasions for being elected Japan's first female prime minister.

Elimination of trade barriers

In addition to the many mutual compliments, Trump and Takaichi signed a cooperation agreement on strategically important raw materials. The two countries want to identify “projects of mutual interest” to close “gaps” in the supply chains of critical minerals and rare metals. They also want to mobilize the private sector to reduce dependence on China for these raw materials. They are needed for the production of electronics, semiconductors, batteries, wind turbines and weapons. On the first stop of his Asia trip, Trump signed similar agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand in Kuala Lumpur.

On Sunday, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Japan's new Economy and Industry Minister Ryosei Akazawa met in Tokyo. The two politicians negotiated a trade deal in the summer, under which Japan will invest $550 billion in the US. Trump will be able to decide how this money will be spent. In return, the president subsequently reduced US import tariffs on Japanese goods to 15% in early August. Takaichi's government is now trying to ensure that the billions are also invested in Japan's interests. That is why Takaichi worked so hard during this visit to earn Trump's trust and sympathy./ DW