Washington D.C., USA – US President Donald Trump hosted Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House on Thursday for a highly anticipated bilateral meeting focused on the US-Japan alliance, a $550 billion trade and investment deal, and the ongoing military conflict with Iran.
Okay News reports that Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, used her first official visit to Washington to reaffirm Tokyo’s strong security and economic commitments to the United States.
During the Oval Office meeting, the two leaders discussed the impact of the Iran war on global energy security, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane that heavily impacts Japan’s oil supply.
Takaichi appealed to Trump’s desire to be a global peacemaker, stating her firm belief that he could achieve peace across the world. However, the meeting took a tense and awkward turn during a joint press appearance.
When a Japanese reporter asked why the US did not notify its allies before launching its initial strikes on Iran on February 28, Trump defended the need for military secrecy by invoking World War II. Arguing that the US needed the element of surprise to ensure a successful strike, Trump suddenly turned to Takaichi and asked, “Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn’t you tell me about Pearl Harbor, ok?”
The Prime Minister did not directly respond to the historical parallel, instead maintaining her focus on the bilateral agenda, reiterating Japan’s opposition to Iran’s nuclear program, and emphasizing the need for stability in the region.
