Japan’s Takaichi tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump as he seeks help securing Strait of Hormuz  | World News

Japanese Prime Miner Sanae Takaichi has sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.Takaichi, who met with Trump at the White House, told the Republican president that Japan has opposed Iran’s development of its nuclear program and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite his launching a war of choice with Iran.

She told the US president through an interpreter that in the Middle East and around the world now, there was “a very severe security environment,” but said, “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”

The two leaders had warm words for each other, including Trump calling the prime miner a “popular, powerful woman,” but there appeared to be some tension as they faced repeated questions from reporters about Japan’s support for the Iran war.

As Trump fielded questions during the roughly 30-minute public appearance with the prime miner in the Oval Office before their closed-door meeting, Taikaichi could be seen checking her watch.Story continues below this ad

And then Trump made a particularly uncomfortable remark — invoking Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor — when he was asked why the US didn’t notify allies like Japan ahead of the strikes on Iran.”We didn’t tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?” Trump joked.

As Trump said that, Takaichi’s slight smile appeared to drop, and she raised her eyebrows.

Earlier Thursday, the leaders of five European countries and Japan issued a joint statement demanding that Iran stop attacks on the Strait of Hormuz that block commercial shipping, and said they are ready to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to ensure ships can pass safely through the strait, though it is not clear what that entails.

Trump told reporters that he and Takaichi would be discussing in their meeting Japan’s level of support for the US in the Iran war, saying, “They are really stepping up to the plate.” He did not offer details. He later said that much of the oil Japan relies on passes through the Strait of Hormuz and said, “so that’s a big reason to step up. He also mentioned US spending in Japan and the number of troops it has stationed there.Story continues below this ad

“I expect Japan to step up, you know, because we have that kind of relationship,” Trump said.After her meeting with Trump, Takaichi told reporters that they agreed that ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz was of the utmost importance, but she gave Trump a detailed explanation of the actions Japan can and cannot take under its law.

A nuclear reactor deal announcement is expected Taikaichi’s meeting at the White House, followed a dinner Thursday night, was supposed to give Japan’s new prime miner a prime opportunity to have Trump’s ear before he embarked on a trip to China.

But now, the war in Iran and Trump’s call for Japan and other nations to help protect the vital Strait of Hormuz means the China trip has been delayed. Trump had repeatedly complained on camera and online this week that US allies, including Japan, did not heed his request to help safeguard the critical waterway for oil and gas transport. He later declared the help wasn’t needed, but made other comments indicating he still expected help.

The prime miner acknowledged before she left Japan that she expected her meeting with Trump would be “very difficult.” Beyond facing questions about Iran, Takaichi and Trump on Thursday are expected to announce a USD 40 billion nuclear reactor deal, according to a White House official, who was not authorised to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details before the announcement.Story continues below this ad

Under the deal, US-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. will build advanced small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, the official said. The deal aims to help stabilise electricity prices and expand power generation in the US.

The meeting carries high stakesKurt Campbell, the former US deputy secretary of state in the Biden adminration and now chair of The Asia Group, said that to press for Japan’s interests, Takaichi needed to find a way to suggest that Japan is part of the US plan in the Middle East.”She’s going to want to come out of that as a partner in this case and realise that if she can do that, that she can translate that potentially into the president lening more to Japanese concerns about Taiwan or other issues,” Campbell said.

The constraints on Japan’s involvement in Iran include a provision in its post-World War II constitution that bans the use of force except to defend its territory. The country’s military is called the Self-Defense Force.

Chropher Johnstone, a partner and chair of the defence and national security practice at The Asia Group, said Japan could help with minesweeping and has had “a small naval presence” in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade. But to join the US mission would require Takaichi to clear “an exceptionally high bar politically to invoke collective self-defense” that has never been done before.Story continues below this ad

Takaichi wanted to focus on trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region Takaichi, who had her first meeting with Trump in October in Tokyo, is Japan’s first female prime miner and a protege of former leader Shinzo Abe, who developed a close relationship with Trump.