TOKYO — In her first major policy address following her surprise appointment, Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged Friday to elevate relations with the United States to “new heights”, signaling a rejuvenation of the alliance with Donald Trump’s administration amid rising regional tensions.
Takaichi declared that Japan will accelerate its defence commitments, moving its target of reaching military expenditure at 2 percent of GDP ahead by two years, and pledged to deepen cooperation with the U.S. on security in the Indo-Pacific, trade, and technological partnership.
She described the current geopolitical climate, citing “historic shifts in the balance of power and intensifying competition” from China, North Korea and Russia as demanding stronger Japan-U.S. coordination.
The Japan government optimism for a quick summit with President Trump reflects the urgency Tokyo attaches to realising the shared policy goals outlined in a recent Japan-U.S. joint leaders’ statement, including reinforcing defence ties and deepening investment and technological links.
Takaichi’s ambition also includes stronger economic leverage: cooperating on semiconductors, AI, and other advanced sectors, and aligning Japanese investment to support U.S. industry and jobs—both to strengthen the alliance and to meet U.S. expectations of burden-sharing.
Observers note that the vow to take the alliance to new heights also carries risk: Japan must navigate sensitive issues such as U.S. tariff pressures, the cost of increased defence spending, and balancing diplomatic relations with China.
