WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Japanese Prime Minister sought to reaffirm her alliance with President on Thursday 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 .
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 , despite his launching a . She told the U.S. president through an interpreter that in the Middle East and around the world now, there was 鈥渁 very severe security environment,鈥� but said, 鈥淓ven against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.鈥�
The two leaders had for each other, including Trump calling the prime minister a 鈥減opular, powerful woman,鈥� 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 minister in the Oval Office before their closed-door meeting, Taikaichi could be seen checking her watch. And then Trump made a particularly uncomfortable remark 鈥� invoking Japan鈥檚 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor 鈥� when he was asked why the U.S. didn鈥檛 notify allies like Japan ahead of the strikes on Iran.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 tell anybody about it because we wanted surprise. Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn鈥檛 you tell me about Pearl Harbor, OK?鈥� Trump joked.
As Trump said that, Takaichi鈥檚 slight smile appeared to drop, and she raised her eyebrows.
But the pair were all smiles in the evening, as Trump hosted a dinner in the prime minister’s office. 鈥淭his is a spectacular woman, and it鈥檚 an honor to have you at the White House,” Trump said. Taikaichi referred to the leaders through an interpreter as 鈥渂est buddies” before declaring, in English, 鈥淛apan is back.鈥�
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 鈥渁ppropriate efforts鈥� 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鈥檚 level of support for the U.S. in the Iran war, saying, 鈥淭hey are really stepping up to the plate.鈥� He did not offer details.
The president later said that much of the oil Japan relies on passes through the Strait of Hormuz and said, 鈥渟o that鈥檚 a big reason to step up. He also mentioned U.S. spending in Japan and the number of troops it has stationed there.
鈥淚 expect Japan to step up, you know, because we have that kind of relationship,鈥� 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 is signed
Taikaichi鈥檚 White House visit was supposed to give Japan鈥檚 new prime minister a prime opportunity to have Trump鈥檚 ear before he embarked on a trip to China.
But now, the war in Iran and Trump鈥檚 to help protect the vital Strait of Hormuz means the . Trump had repeatedly complained on camera and online this week that U.S. allies, including Japan, to help safeguard the critical waterway for oil and gas transport. He later declared the help wasn鈥檛 needed, but made other comments indicating he still expected help.
The prime minister acknowledged before she left Japan that she expected her meeting with Trump would
Beyond facing questions about Iran, Takaichi and Trump on Thursday signed a $40 billion nuclear reactor deal, the White House said.
Under it, U.S.-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. are set to build advanced small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama. The deal aims to help stabilize electricity prices and expand power generation in the U.S.
The meeting carried high stakes
Kurt Campbell, the former U.S. deputy secretary of state in the Biden administration and now chair of The Asia Group, said that to press for Japan鈥檚 interests, Takaichi needed to find a way to suggest that Japan is part of the U.S. plan in the Middle East.
鈥淪he鈥檚 going to want to come out of that as a partner in this case and realize that if she can do that, that she can translate that potentially into the president listening more to Japanese concerns about Taiwan or other issues,鈥� Campbell said.
The constraints on Japan鈥檚 involvement in Iran include a provision in its post-World War II except to defend its territory. The country鈥檚 military is called the Self-Defense Force.
Christopher Johnstone, a partner and chair of the defense and national security practice at The Asia Group, said Japan could help with minesweeping and has had 鈥渁 small naval presence鈥� in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade. But to join the U.S. mission would require Takaichi to clear 鈥渁n exceptionally high bar politically to invoke collective self-defense鈥� that has never been done before.
Takaichi wanted to focus on trade and security in the Indo-Pacific region
Takaichi, who had her in October in Tokyo, is Japan鈥檚 first female prime minister and a prot茅g茅 of former leader Shinzo Abe, who developed a .
She is also a hard-line conservative and longtime supporter of Taiwan, whose comments about Japan鈥檚 willingness to provide military support to the island .
Takaichi said between her Oval Office meeting and the dinner that she and Trump discussed deepening U.S.-Japanese cooperation in regional security, critical minerals, energy and dealing with China.
, which the U.S. relies on for its production of computer chips, as its sovereign territory and has said it would take it by force if needed.
But the Strait of Hormuz aside, the global implications of the Iran war have also put the Japanese leader in a tougher spot with Trump as she seeks to ensure U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Japan and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea. But the U.S. has stationed in Japan to the Middle East, removing a check against China鈥檚 power.
Those troop shifts came at the same time China is launching a large number of exercises around Taiwan.
鈥淭his raises the prospect that 鈥� once again 鈥� the United States will be distracted and bogged down in the Middle East at a time when the deterrence problem in East Asia has never been greater,鈥� Johnstone said.
___
Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo and Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
