"The World and Japan" Database (Project Leader: TANAKA Akihiko)
Database of Japanese Politics and International Relations
National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS); Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia (IASA), The University of Tokyo

[Title] Press Conference by Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae Regarding the Visit to Japan by U.S. President Trump

[Place]
[Date] October 28, 2025
[Source] Prime Minister's Office of Japan
[Notes] Provisional translation
[Full text]

[Opening statement by Prime Minister Takaichi]

Today, I held my first in-person summit meeting with President Trump. Through candid discussions across wide-ranging fields, we achieved significant outcomes. I am confident that, together with President Trump, we can elevate the Japan-U.S. Alliance to new heights. The Japan-U.S. Alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy and security, and at the same time, Japan is an indispensable partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. With this in mind, I conveyed my desire to work with the President to open a new chapter in the history of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, which makes both our nations stronger and more prosperous. We confirmed that we will further enhance the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance and to advance cooperation with like-minded partners, including Japan-U.S.-ROK, Japan-U.S.-Philippines, and Japan-U.S.-Australia-India (Quad). We also affirmed our commitment to realizing a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)," as first advocated by former Prime Minister ABE Shinzo.

I conveyed to President Trump Japan's determination to continue working to fundamentally reinforce our defense capabilities and increase defense spending at our own initiative. Also, Japan and the United States are the closest economic partners. We will further grow our economies through the swift and faithful implementation of our bilateral agreement reached in July, thereby maximizing Japan's national interests. We also confirmed that we will further strengthen our economic security cooperation in a wide range of areas, including critical minerals and rare earths, AI and other advanced technologies, and shipbuilding. In this context, President Trump and I signed documents on the implementation of our bilateral agreement and on cooperation in the field of critical minerals and rare earths. We also held discussions on the Middle East and Ukraine, during which I expressed that Japan will continue to stand alongside the United States as a partner in its peace efforts. I requested continued understanding and cooperation regarding the abductions issue committed by North Korea, to which I gained President Trump's full support. President Trump also kindly took time to meet with the family members of the abductees. Furthermore, we reaffirmed our resolute commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea.

Going forward, I am determined to further deepen the relationship of trust with President Trump and to strongly open a new golden age of the Japan–U.S. Alliance. With this greatest alliance in the world as the cornerstone of our country, we will restore Japanese diplomacy that flourishes on the world's center stage and will assume an even greater role in advancing peace and prosperity across the globe. That concludes my remarks.