Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met U.S. President Donald Trump in Tokyo on October 28 for their first summit, informing him that Japan intends to continue importing Russian liquefied natural gas for the time being. The U.S. had urged Japan to end such imports to bolster sanctions on Russia, but Takaichi stressed the necessity due to risks of domestic power shortages. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral ties and defense cooperation.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a roughly 40-minute meeting with President Donald Trump at Tokyo's State Guest House on October 28, where both nations confirmed broad cooperation in security and economic fields. Takaichi shared memories of the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, stating, 'Japan and the United States have now become the world's greatest alliance. Japan will also contribute to world peace and prosperity.' Trump responded, 'Shinzo Abe was a great friend of mine ... He spoke so well of you long before we met.'
On Russian LNG, Takaichi explained the difficulty of halting imports. In 2024, Russian LNG accounted for 8.6 percent of Japan's total imports, supplied from the Sakhalin-2 project in which Japanese firms Mitsui and Mitsubishi hold stakes. She noted that stopping imports would only please China and Russia, seeking U.S. understanding for Japan's energy needs. Sakhalin-2 supply contracts are set to end between 2028 and 2033, and replacement could lead to higher costs and electricity prices.
In defense discussions, Takaichi expressed intent to achieve 2 percent of GDP in defense spending ahead of schedule, and Trump praised Japan's substantial military buildup. The two sides signed memorandums on building supply chains for critical minerals like rare earths and enhancing shipbuilding capabilities. Gifts included a golf putter favored by Abe and a golf bag signed by pro golfer Hideki Matsuyama, with Trump introducing Takaichi as 'this woman is a winner.'
Following the talks, they visited U.S. troops on the USS George Washington in Yokosuka, where Takaichi rode on Marine One. The summit was hailed as a near-perfect success in demonstrating the strength of the Japan-U.S. alliance.
