United States President Donald Trump met Japan’s newly elected and first female Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Tuesday, marking a milestone in US-Japan relations with the signing of major deals on rare earth minerals and trade cooperation.

The meeting, held at Tokyo’s Akasaka Palace, also saw both leaders reaffirm their commitment to regional security, with Takaichi vowing to accelerate Japan’s military buildup and Trump commending her as a “great leader.”

“Everything I know from Shinzo and others, you will be one of the great prime ministers,” Trump said, referring to late Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, Takaichi’s political mentor.

The highlight of the summit was a strategic agreement on critical minerals and rare earths, aimed at reducing both nations’ dependence on China, which currently dominates the global supply of these materials.

In a statement, the White House said the agreement’s goal was “to assist both countries in achieving resilience and security of critical minerals and rare earths supply chains.”

Under the deal, the US and Japan will jointly identify projects of interest to address supply chain gaps for materials essential to producing batteries, fighter jets, permanent magnets, catalysts, and optical components.

$550bln investment and trade expansion

According to Reuters, Takaichi is expected to announce a $550 billion investment package, which includes shipbuilding cooperation, and increased imports of US soybeans, natural gas, and pickup trucks.

These commitments are seen as efforts to strengthen trade relations while balancing Trump’s push for Tokyo to share more of the regional defense burden.

“We are buying more defense equipment from the US, and we see this partnership as vital for peace in the Indo-Pacific,” Takaichi told reporters through an interpreter.

Praise and symbolic gifts

During the meeting, Trump lauded Japan’s new leader for her bold stance on defense and international diplomacy. Takaichi, in turn, praised Trump’s role in mediating ceasefires between Cambodia and Thailand, and between Israel and Palestinian groups, calling his efforts “unprecedented.”

She also announced her intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, saying:

“In such a short period of time, the world started to enjoy more peace. I was deeply inspired by you, Mr President.”

In a symbolic exchange, Takaichi presented Trump with a golf bag signed by Japanese major winner Hideki Matsuyama, Abe’s personal putter, and a gold-leaf golf ball, celebrating their nations’ shared friendship through the sport beloved by both leaders.

Military and economic cooperation on display

Following the meeting, Trump and Takaichi are scheduled to visit the US naval base in Yokosuka, home to the USS George Washington, underscoring the defense cooperation between the two allies.

The visit highlights Japan’s ongoing efforts to expand its defense budget to 2% of GDP, a move that aligns with Trump’s long-standing call for allies to contribute more to regional security amid growing tensions with China.

Trump is expected to continue his Asia tour with a stop in South Korea on Wednesday, where he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss a possible trade war truce between Washington and Beijing.

The Tokyo summit marks a new phase in the US-Japan alliance, blending economic, technological, and defense priorities.
By bolstering cooperation on rare earth minerals, both countries are taking a significant step toward securing supply chains critical for next-generation technologies, while signaling a united front against China’s dominance in global resources.