In his first phone call with US President Donald Trump on October 25, new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent a clear message about the foreign policy orientation of the new Tokyo administration.
According to information from the Japanese Prime Minister's office, Ms. Takaichi affirmed that strengthening and enhancing alliances with the US is a "top priority" in her foreign and security policies.
Ms. Takaichi also emphasized Japan's indispensable role in US strategies in the India-Pacific region, especially in the context of increasing strategic competition with China. The two leaders are said to have reaffirmed their shared commitment to continue to bring the bilateral alliances to a new height.
The emphasis on the US-Japan alliance comes in a complex geopolitical context. This allianced relationship has long been the foundation for Tokyo's foreign and security policies in the post-war period. In recent years, as strategic competition with China has become increasingly fierce and regional security instability has increased, maintaining and consolidating this alliance is considered a vital factor for both the US and Japan to ensure stability and balance of power in the India - Pacific.
The phone call began with President Trump congratulating Ms. Takaichi on her inauguration as prime minister on October 21, becoming the first female prime minister in Japan's history.
The two leaders also took the time to recall the memories of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Mr. Abe was not only a political orientator for Ms. Takaichi but also an important architect of the concept of "Friendly and wide Pacific India" and a person who made great contributions to strengthening US-Japan relations during President Trump's first term. The mention of Abe shows the inheritance and continuation of foreign policy under Ms. Takaichi.
In terms of personal impressions, Ms. Takaichi is said to have described President Trump as a "very cheerful and attractive" person, a positive signal for the personal relationship between the two leaders.
This phone call is considered an important preparation step for President Trump's upcoming visit to Japan. He is expected to arrive in Tokyo on October 27 and have an official summit with Prime Minister Takaichi on October 28.
This direct meeting is expected to deepen the personal relationship between the two leaders and shape bilateral cooperation priorities in the coming time, from regional security issues to economic and technological cooperation.
