US President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the White House Oval Office on Mar 19. Days after lashing out at US allies including Japan for failing to heed his calls to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war, Trump praised Tokyo's efforts related to the Middle East situation in vague terms.
"I believe that, based on statements (which) were given to us yesterday, the day before yesterday, having to do with Japan, they are really stepping up to the plate," Trump told reporters.
Global Security and Energy: What Takaichi and Trump Discussed in Washington
US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi discussed global security, energy market stability, the situation in the Indo-Pacific region, and oil supplies amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
Takaichi stated that Trump is "the only person who can bring peace and prosperity to the world" and expressed her readiness to support him by engaging other countries in efforts amid tensions in relations between the US, Israel, and Iran. She conveyed this to the White House leader during a private meeting in the Oval Office.
During the media-accessible portion of the talks, Takaichi emphasized that the prospect of Iran developing nuclear weapons is unacceptable. She also presented a proposal for measures to "stabilize the global energy market," given growing concerns about oil supplies amid the conflict.
Amid China's growing influence, Takaichi also reminded Trump that the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region remains tense, particularly with reports of the redeployment of some US military forces from the region to the Middle East.
The American leader noted that he believes Japan has been "intensifying" in recent days due to the conflict against Iran. He expressed dissatisfaction with Washington's allies, including Tokyo, for their insufficient role in ensuring the security of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil trade. At the same time, he welcomed Japan's purchase of "large quantities" of American military equipment.
It is noted that Takaichi began establishing contacts with the US President in Tokyo in October 2025, shortly after becoming the first woman to serve as Japan's prime minister. Since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, Tokyo has been forced to strike a delicate balance between maintaining a strong alliance with Washington and maintaining friendly relations with Tehran.
The Takaichi government has refrained from officially supporting or legally assessing the US and Israeli military actions against Iran, which some countries and organizations view as preemptive strikes that violate international law.
At the same time, Japan has condemned Iran's attacks on other Middle Eastern countries that have resulted in civilian casualties.
It was previously reported that Japan would release strategic oil reserves due to the conflict in the Middle East. More than 90% of Japan's oil consumption comes from the Middle East, making the country extremely vulnerable to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Such a closure could halt the flow of oil and gas from suppliers in the Persian Gulf.
Takaichi and Trump Meet: Expanding Investment in the US by 109 Trillion Yen and Promoting SMR Cooperation
On this day, Takaichi was the first of the countries pressured by the Strait of Hormuz to meet with Trump. The day before her departure, Takaichi stated in the Diet, "We will do what Japan can do based on the law, and clearly communicate what we cannot do." Immediately after the meeting, Takaichi met with Japanese reporters and said regarding the deployment of warships to the Strait of Hormuz, "There are things that can and cannot be done within the scope of Japanese law, and I explained this in detail," avoiding a clear statement on whether or not to accept the deployment.
On this day, in her opening remarks, which were open to the media, Prime Minister Takaichi openly praised President Trump. After mentioning the extremely severe global security environment, Takaichi stated, "I believe that Donald (President Trump) is the only person who can bring peace and prosperity to the world, and I want to support him with certainty," and declared, "Iran's nuclear weapons development is unacceptable. Japan criticizes (Iran's) attacks on neighboring countries and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz."
Takaichi went with a "wrapping cloth of investment" for President Trump. Just one month after announcing its first investment project in the U.S. worth $36 billion (approximately 54 trillion won) last month, the U.S. announced on this day an investment plan of up to $73 billion (approximately 109 trillion won), double the size of the first project. According to Kyodo News, this includes cooperation between Japan and the U.S. in the energy sector , such as the construction of small modular reactors (SMRs) and natural gas power plants. Takaichi explained that such cooperation is an extremely important area given the increasing demand for electricity and the situation in the Middle East.
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