For the alliance of the United States and Japan, “a new golden era” is dawning in which both countries are “stronger and more prosperous,” said Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, signing a joint declaration with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in Tokyo.
There, after his visit to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Trump made the second stop of his Asian tour, which also took him to South Korea. The two leaders signed an agreement on raw materials of strategic importance. Additionally, both sides published a list of projects in the energy, artificial intelligence and critical technologies sectors. Japanese companies plan to invest up to $400 billion in the United States.
Trump used the visit to America’s closest ally in East Asia to project an image of strength ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
Trump and Takaichi flew to the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington in Yokosuka Harbor. Addressing US Marines, Takaichi advocated for a “free and open” Indo-Pacific, and Trump declared: “No one has our weapons, and very soon our country will be stronger and more powerful than ever.” He concluded his visit dancing to the rhythm of the song YMCA.
Takaichi, a good host
Takaichi spared no effort to establish a good relationship with Trump in his first personal meeting with him. The 64-year-old politician repeatedly turned to the figure of her predecessor, Shinzo Abe. Prime Minister Abe, assassinated in 2022, was a close friend of Trump during his first term, and Trump honors his memory.
The nationalist Abe was Takaichi’s mentor, and she considers herself his political heir. In their first meeting, he gave Trump the putter Abe’s golf course. Both politicians had played golf together on several occasions. Evidently, Takaichi wanted Trump’s appreciation for Abe to transfer to her.
There were also other small gestures to show that Japan heard the signals from the White House. At lunch, Trump and Takaichi were served a risotto of American rice and a steak of U.S. beef. A symbol of Japan’s willingness to import more American agricultural products, something Trump had demanded specifically for rice and beef. Specifically, Japan offered to buy more soybeans and natural gas from the United States, as well as a fleet of trucks pickup from USA
Rising expenditures on weapons
The Japanese counterpart did not miss the opportunity to flatter Trump. Takaichi praised the president’s role in achieving the ceasefires between Cambodia and Thailand, as well as between Israel and Hamas, calling them “unprecedented” achievements. According to the White House, Takaichi will also nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Already before, conservative politics tried to gain Trump’s acceptance. On Friday, October 24, 2025, he announced in Parliament that Japan would increase defense spending to two percent of GDP in the current fiscal year, which ends in March. Japan had planned to reach this goal by 2027. Trump immediately praised Japan for “significantly” increasing its military capabilities.
The United States would have already received “a lot of new military equipment,” Trump said. Delivery of US missiles for Japan’s long-awaited F-35 fighters would begin this week, he added. At the same time, he assured Japan of the full support of the United States: “We are an ally at the highest level.” And he added that he had always deeply loved and respected Japan. He repeatedly praised Takaichi for becoming Japan’s first female prime minister.
Eliminating obstacles
Along with numerous mutual compliments, Trump and Takaichi signed a cooperation agreement for strategic raw materials. Both countries want to identify “joint projects of interest” to close “gaps” in the supply chains of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
Another objective is to mobilize the private sector, in order to reduce its dependence on China in obtaining these raw materials, necessary for the production of electronics, semiconductors, batteries, wind turbines and weapons. During the first stop of his Asian tour, Trump signed similar agreements with Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand in Kuala Lumpur.
On Sunday, October 27, US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and Japan’s new Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa met in Tokyo. The two negotiated a trade deal over the summer under which Japan will invest $550 billion in the United States.
Under the agreement, Trump will be able to decide how this money is spent. In exchange, the president retroactively reduced the U.S. import tariff on Japanese goods to 15 percent, effective in early August. The Takaichi Government is now working to ensure that these billions are invested for the benefit of Japan.
(cp/ms)
