Overview

• President Donald Trump stated that the U.S. is obligated to protect Japan under their security agreement, but Japan is not required to defend the U.S.
• Trump claimed that Japan benefits economically from the arrangement and questioned the fairness of the deal.
• Japan's government responded by reaffirming trust in the U.S. to uphold its treaty obligations and highlighting its contributions to the alliance.
• The remarks coincide with Japan's trade minister preparing a trip to Washington to address potential U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum.
• Japan's officials also pushed back on Trump's claims about Japanese investment in a proposed natural gas pipeline in Alaska, calling for further study.