Japan PM says strong US ties ‘top priority’ after phone call with Trump
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US President Donald Trump (left) and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi spoke for the first time since Ms Takaichi took office earlier this week.
PHOTOS: BLOOMBERG, REUTERS
Follow topic:
- Japan's PM Takaichi told Trump strengthening Japan-US alliance is her "top priority" in a phone call before his Tokyo visit.
- Takaichi and Trump agreed to elevate the Japan-US alliance, describing their conversation as "good and candid".
- Trump's visit includes discussions on boosting Japan's military spending, with Japan hitting its 2% GDP defence target early.
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TOKYO - Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said she told US President Donald Trump in a telephone call on Oct 25 that strengthening the alliance between their countries was her “top priority”.
The call came days before Mr Trump’s planned visit to Tokyo on a regional tour, and was the first between the two leaders since Ms Takaichi took office earlier this week, media said.
“We agreed that we will work towards elevating the Japan-US alliance to new heights,” she told reporters.
“I told him that strengthening the Japan-US alliance is my administration’s top priority on the diplomatic and security front”.
Ms Takaichi also said she found Mr Trump “to be a very lively, fun person”.
In a post on X, she said their conversation was “good and candid”.
Mr Trump is due to visit Japan from Oct 27 on his way to crunch trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
The US president wants Tokyo and other allies to boost their military spending.
In her first policy speech, Ms Takaichi said on Oct 24 that 2 per cent of gross domestic product will be spent on defence this fiscal year, hitting the government’s target two years early. AFP
