Trump hails, solidifies ‘remarkable’ alliance with Japan ahead of Xi summit

(Daily Caller News Foundation) – President Donald Trump solidified the long-standing Japan-U.S. alliance during his visit Monday by signing a trade deal securing rare earth mineral supplies to challenge China’s dominance.

Trump met Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Emperor Naruhito on Tuesday, looking to shore up a critical alliance in the American East Asian entente against China. After signing the trade deal expanding the  partnership, Trump lauded Takaichi and the decades-old U.S.-Japan alliance aboard the Nimitz-class USS George Washington aircraft carrier.

“I have such respect for Japan as a country, and now I have a really great respect for the new and incredible Prime Minister,” Trump said aboard Nimitz-class USS George Washington aircraft carrier. “The cherished alliance between the U.S. and Japan is one of the most remarkable relationships anywhere in the world.” 

Japan is set to invest $550 billion into the U.S., shoring up projects focused on energy generation, sources told Reuters Tuesday. In addition, Japan will use economic means at their disposal to create “fair markets for critical minerals and rare earths.”

Japan will continue to upscale American liquified natural gas purchases in order to ween off Russian supplies and diversify their imports of the critical fuel, according to Reuters.

Takaichi aims to prepare Japan to come to the U.S.’s aid in the event of Chinese aggression against Taiwan, with the PM pledging to accelerate Japan’s military buildup. The new PM has cited former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as a major inspiration for her policy, earning herself the nickname of Japan’s “Iron Lady.”

Takaichi was mentored by the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was known to be a close friend of Trump’s. Trump received Abe’s putter as a gift from Takaichi during his visit.

The White House and the Japanese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.

(Image credit: White House/X)