In a significant diplomatic meeting in Tokyo, US President Donald Trump and Japan’s first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, solidified their nations’ partnership through agreements on critical minerals, rare earths, and military cooperation. The meeting, held at the Akasaka Palace, underscored the strategic alliance between the two countries amid growing regional tensions with China. Trump lauded Takaichi’s commitment to accelerating Japan’s military buildup, including plans to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP, a move aimed at countering China’s assertiveness. Takaichi, in turn, expressed her intention to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in brokering ceasefires in Cambodia, Thailand, and between Israel and Hamas. The leaders signed a landmark agreement to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals, essential for technologies ranging from smartphones to fighter jets. The deal includes joint projects in magnets and batteries, as well as the development of strategic mineral stockpiles. Takaichi gifted Trump a putter once owned by the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a golf bag signed by Japanese major winner Hideki Matsuyama, and a gold leaf golf ball, symbolizing the personal rapport between the leaders. The meeting also evoked memories of Trump’s close relationship with Abe, who was assassinated in 2022. Takaichi’s gestures and the agreements signed are expected to bolster her political standing domestically, despite her coalition government’s narrow parliamentary majority. Trump’s visit to Japan concluded with a tour of the US naval base in Yokosuka, highlighting the US military’s presence in the region. He will next travel to South Korea for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, aiming to resolve the ongoing trade war between the world’s two largest economies.