Takaichi Evades Iran Spat With Trump Despite Pearl Harbor Jibe

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(Bloomberg) — Sanae Takaichi had warned her first summit with Donald Trump in Washington could be “extremely difficult,” after the US asked her to deploy warships to Iran. Instead, she showcased Japan’s deep ties with the US — and her own agility on the world stage.

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Takaichi smiled politely during the only obvious moment of tension during their Oval Office meeting on Thursday, when Trump referenced the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Otherwise, the Republican leader praised Takaichi, highlighted new areas of economic cooperation and pledged to speak up for Tokyo when he eventually meets Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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“We’ve had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything,” Trump said, after greeting Takaichi with a hug outside the White House. Takaichi explained the legal limits to the support Japan can offer in defending the Strait of Hormuz because of her nation’s pacifist constitution, which America helped to write.

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For US allies from Australia to South Korea who Trump had named and berated for refusing to deploy battleships to help open the narrow waterway, Takaichi’s warm reception in Washington will be a welcome signal the Republican leader won’t necessarily hold a grudge, as his spiraling war in the Middle East approaches its fourth week.  

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In large part that’s because Trump sees Japan as a key ally in countering China. Efforts by Takaichi to bolster her country’s military have reinforced that view, along with joint work in reducing supply chain reliance on Beijing, which currently dominates production of the rare earths underpinning global manufacturing.

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“Takaichi is likely breathing a sigh of relief after emerging relatively unscathed from her meeting,” said Bloomberg Economics’ Adam Farrar. “She received a remarkably positive reception from the president, despite a few awkward comments, underscoring the strength of their personal relationship.”

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Since taking office last year, Takaichi has shown flair for forging personal connections, from open displays of affection with Italy’s Giorgia Meloni to drumming with South Korean leader Lee Jae Myung. That signature style was on display in Washington. As Takaichi prepared for a carrot velouté and Maine lobster dinner, she wished Trump’s youngest son happy birthday, adding that his good looks came from his parents. 

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For his part, Trump called Takaichi an “amazing friend” and lauded her landslide election victory last month as a declaration of strength and confidence from the Japanese people “who love you.”

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Economic Sweeteners

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While Takaichi didn’t come to Washington offering warships, she’d prepared plenty of economic sweeteners. 

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That included plans to construct small modular nuclear reactors in Tennessee and Alabama at a cost of as much as $40 billion, as well as projects for natural gas generation facilities in Pennsylvania and Texas for a total of around $33 billion.  

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Those offers come after the announcement only last month of a combined $36 billion investment for a US oil export terminal, gas power plant and synthetic diamond manufacturing facility. Such deals are part of a $550 billion fund established under a US-Japan tariff truce, although Tokyo is still far from fulfilling that whole pledge.