Japan’s newly installed Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday as the Iran war and the security of the Strait of Hormuz shaped the diplomacy—and as Trump drew scrutiny about what allies were told ahead of U.S. strikes on Iran. Takaichi sought to reaffirm alliance ties after Trump this week appeared to complain that Japan had not quickly joined his call for help protecting the strait, a passage that commercial shipping uses for energy deliveries.
During their public appearance in the Oval Office before a closed-door meeting, the two leaders exchanged warm words, with Trump later describing Takaichi as a “popular, powerful woman.” But the tone also reflected friction as reporters repeatedly asked about Japan’s support related to the Iran war. A central theme of the encounter was whether Japan could align more closely with U.S. expectations while staying within its post-World War II constitutional limits, which restrict the use of force.
Takaichi, using an interpreter to address Trump directly, told him Japan opposed Iran’s development of its nuclear program and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker. She also told Trump that “a very severe security environment” now exists in the Middle East and around the world, and she said, “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.” As Trump fielded questions, Takaichi was seen checking her watch, and the meeting later shifted toward public displays of cordiality.
The appearance included a particularly uncomfortable moment when Trump invoked Japan’s 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor while responding to questions about why the United States did not notify allies like Japan before 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 said. Takaichi’s reaction appeared to show strain, and the leaders later returned to a celebratory tone during an evening dinner in the prime minister’s office.
The dinner and subsequent comments underscored how both sides tried to keep the relationship on track. Trump said it was “an honor” to have Takaichi at the White House and described her as “a spectacular woman.” Takaichi referred to the leaders through an interpreter as “best buddies” before declaring in English, “Japan is back.”
In parallel with the diplomacy, European leaders and Japan earlier Thursday issued a joint statement demanding that Iran stop attacks on the Strait of Hormuz that block commercial shipping, saying they are ready to contribute to “appropriate efforts” to ensure ships can pass safely through the strait. Trump told reporters before his closed-door meeting with Takaichi that he and the prime minister would discuss Japan’s level of support in the Iran war, saying, “They are really stepping up to the plate,” but without providing details. He also pointed to oil shipments, saying much of the oil Japan relies on passes through the strait, and linked that to his expectation that Japan would step up; he also cited U.S. spending in Japan and the number of troops stationed there.
After the meeting, Takaichi told reporters she and Trump agreed that ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz was of the utmost importance, and she described what actions Japan can and cannot take under its law. The effort to align closely with U.S. aims became an urgent political problem for Takaichi: the prime minister had said before leaving Japan that the White House meeting would be “very difficult,” and her planned trip to China was delayed in part because of the Iran war and Trump’s demands regarding the strait.
The meeting also produced a major separate outcome: a nuclear reactor agreement worth $40 billion, the White House said. Under the deal, U.S.-based GE Vernova Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Ltd. are set to build advanced small modular reactors in Tennessee and Alabama, with the agreement aimed at stabilizing electricity prices and expanding U.S. power generation.
The stakes for Takaichi were also described by Asia Group officials. Kurt Campbell, a former U.S. deputy secretary of state who now chairs The Asia Group, said Takaichi needed to frame Japan’s interests in a way that still fit with U.S. plans in the Middle East. Campbell said that if she could emerge as a partner in that case, it could translate into Trump listening more to Japanese concerns about Taiwan and other issues. Christopher Johnstone, an Asia Group partner who chairs its defense and national security practice, said Japan could help with minesweeping and that it has had “a small naval presence” in the region as part of an anti-piracy mission for at least a decade. But Johnstone said joining a U.S. mission would require Takaichi to clear “an exceptionally high bar politically to invoke collective self-defense,” which he said has never been done before.
Takaichi also came into the visit with a wider agenda focused on trade and security in the Indo-Pacific, according to the AP report. She is Japan’s first female prime minister, a protégé of former leader Shinzo Abe who developed a close relationship with Trump, and she is a longtime supporter of Taiwan. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has said it would take it by force if needed. Johnstone said the Strait of Hormuz aside, global implications of the Iran war put Takaichi in a tougher spot with Trump because Japan sees China as a growing security threat and has pushed a military buildup on southwestern islands near the East China Sea, while the United States has shifted some troops stationed in Japan to the Middle East—removing what Johnstone described as a check against China’s power at the same time China has been launching exercises around Taiwan.
In practice, the Strait of Hormuz questions that pressed other U.S. partners to define their role also formed a backdrop for Takaichi’s challenge as the alliance relationship faced new friction MSI previously reported. For Takaichi, the task was to keep Japan aligned with U.S. expectations on maritime security while navigating the constitutional restrictions that limit how Japan can contribute to operations in and around the Iran war.