TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi announced on January 2 that she and US President Donald Trump agreed during phone talks to schedule a summit in the United States this spring, focusing on regional security and economic ties.
“We exchanged views primarily on the Indo-Pacific region and affirmed close Japan-US cooperation under the current global situation,” Ms Takaichi told reporters, declining further details. The discussion reaffirmed collaboration with South Korea and other allies to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” she added. They also committed to deepening security and economic partnerships.
The call builds on Ms Takaichi’s prior meeting with Trump during his October visit to Japan and late November talks, where he urged her to “manage” relations with China – a key US trading partner – without retracting her early November remarks on a potential Taiwan contingency that irked Beijing.
Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, remains a flashpoint. Ms Takaichi had signaled interest in an early 2026 summit to align views on China ahead of Trump’s scheduled April meeting with President Xi Jinping. This coordination underscores Japan’s push to solidify US alliances amid escalating regional rivalries.