Japan’s newly appointed prime minister Sanae Takaichi has assured US President Donald Trump that reinforcing the alliance between Tokyo and Washington stands as her administration’s foremost priority during their maiden phone conversation on Saturday.
According to a readout shared on her official website, Takaichi described Japan as an essential partner in advancing US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region and in dealing with China. She said she underlined that strengthening the Japan–US alliance would be central to her government’s foreign and security agenda, reports Reuters.
She noted that both leaders agreed to push the partnership to an even stronger level.
Takaichi joined the call from Malaysia, where she is attending a major regional summit that began on Sunday. Trump dialled in from Air Force One while en route to Kuala Lumpur.
Trump is set to travel to Japan on Monday and will hold his first summit with Takaichi the following day.
The US president began the call by congratulating her on assuming office last Tuesday. Takaichi said they also reflected on the legacy of former prime minister Shinzo Abe, who was her mentor.
