Trump, Takaichi unveil ‘golden age’ in US-Japan ties during Tokyo visit

New Delhi, Oct 28: US President Donald Trump concluded a day-long visit to Japan with a show of military strength and renewed economic cooperation, marking his first meeting with Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi.

During his visit, Trump and Takaichi signed a series of agreements, including one aimed at boosting rare earths supply and production, and another reaffirming existing trade and security partnerships. Both leaders described the moment as the beginning of a “new golden age” in the US–Japan alliance, reports BBC.

Trump addressed American troops aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier stationed in Japan, where he highlighted the importance of military readiness and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to regional security. The White House later confirmed that the first batch of US missiles for Japan’s fighter jets would arrive this week, part of ongoing defence cooperation between the two allies. Earlier in the day, Trump met families of Japanese abductees in North Korea, reiterating US support for efforts to bring them home. He also held talks with Japanese business leaders, signalling continued engagement despite recent trade tensions arising from new US tariffs. For Prime Minister Takaichi, who took office just last week, the meeting was an early diplomatic test. Her government has pledged to raise defence spending to 2% of GDP and to strengthen Japan’s strategic posture in the Indo-Pacific region. Both leaders also agreed to promote a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific”, a concept first advanced by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which remains central to Japan’s regional diplomacy. Trump departs for South Korea next, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for talks likely to focus on trade, security, and the regional balance of power.