Overview
- Takaichi said Trump invited her during their late Friday phone call, with both sides to arrange a spring meeting in the United States.
- She said they agreed to expand cooperation on security and the economy, calling 2026 an opportunity to open a new chapter in the alliance as the United States marks its 250th anniversary.
- Japanese reporting frames the talks and planned visit as preparation to coordinate positions on China before Trump's scheduled meeting with Xi in April.
- The outreach follows Takaichi's November remarks on a Taiwan contingency that angered Beijing, after which Trump urged her in a late‑November call to avoid escalation and manage ties, according to a Japanese government source.
- Takaichi previously met Trump during his October visit to Japan, and Tokyo had explored an early‑2026 trip before the latest call set a spring timeframe.