Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to usher in a "golden age" of relations with the United States following a meeting with President Donald Trump in Tokyo, where both leaders signed a framework agreement to secure supplies of rare earths and critical minerals.
Trump, visiting Japan on the second leg of his week-long Asian tour, joined Takaichi in signing the deal that establishes cooperation on mining and processing of materials crucial to manufacturing a wide range of products. The agreement comes as China has recently tightened export controls on these strategic resources, heightening global supply chain concerns.
The framework aims to facilitate cooperation through coordinated economic policy and investment to accelerate development of diversified, liquid, and fair markets for critical minerals and rare earths, according to a White House statement. The objective is "to assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals and rare earths supply chains."
"I would like to realise a new golden age of the Japan-US alliance, where both Japan and the United States will become stronger and also more prosperous," Takaichi declared at the start of their meeting. The leaders had earlier watched a live television broadcast featuring Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani during the World Series.
The White House revealed that Takaichi would nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, an honor the president has sought since returning to office. She congratulated Trump on his role in securing ceasefires in Gaza and between Thailand and Cambodia, which have been engaged in a border dispute.
Takaichi, who became Japan's first female prime minister last week, is a protégé of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and shares his hardline stance against China's military expansion in the region. Both leaders made several references to Abe, with whom Trump formed a close relationship during his first administration. Trump described Abe, who was assassinated in 2022, as a "great friend," noting their meeting coincided with the first hearing in the trial of the man accused of killing him.
The talks focused on trade and security issues, building on agreements secured by Takaichi's predecessor, Shigeru Ishiba, who won tariff concessions from the White House in exchange for substantial Japanese investments in the American economy. Japan plans to purchase more American soybeans, pickup trucks, and other products to secure further tariff relief.
In a joint statement, the leaders "confirmed their strong commitment to implementing this great deal," adding that the agreement would "help both countries to strengthen economic security, promote economic growth, and thereby continuously lead to global prosperity."
Takaichi described the US-Japan security relationship as the "greatest alliance in the world," emphasizing Japan's readiness to "contribute to world peace and stability." Trump welcomed Japanese orders for US-made military hardware and predicted substantial bilateral trade growth.
Trump congratulated Takaichi on becoming Japan's first female prime minister, calling it a "big deal" and predicting she would become one of the country's "greatest prime ministers." He pledged unwavering American support, stating, "Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there."
The agreement positions both nations to reduce dependence on Chinese supplies of critical minerals while strengthening their strategic alliance ahead of Trump's scheduled meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea later this week.
