US President Trump holds phone call with Japanese Prime Minister

TOKYO: US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a 20-minute telephone conversation on Saturday, with discussions focusing on China-related economic and security issues and continued coordination between Washington and Tokyo.

According to Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trump called Takaichi shortly after his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and provided her with a detailed account of the US-China summit.

The conversation came just days after Trump and Takaichi met in person in New York, highlighting the close contact between the two governments as Washington engages with Beijing on major economic and strategic issues.

Japan’s Prime Minister’s Office said the call began at around 9pm and lasted approximately 20 minutes. Takaichi later told reporters that Trump explained the latest US-China summit in considerable detail.

The two leaders exchanged views on issues involving China, including economic affairs, economic security and broader security concerns. They also confirmed that Japan and the United States would continue coordinating closely.

Takaichi said the details of the diplomatic exchange would not be disclosed. She described the frequency of the recent high-level contacts as a reflection of the strength of the Japan-US alliance.

During their conversation, the leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to peace and stability in the region and around the world, according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

The call took place against the backdrop of heightened strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific, where China-related economic and security issues remain central to Japanese and US foreign policy.

Japan has continued to emphasize cooperation with Washington on regional security, economic security and the broader Indo-Pacific framework. Earlier this week, Takaichi and Trump had discussed regional affairs during their summit in New York, including the Japan-US alliance and cooperation in areas such as advanced technology and critical resources.

Takaichi said she intended to maintain close coordination with Trump following the latest conversation.

The latest call also comes as the US and China seek to manage their increasingly complex relationship. For Japan, developments between Washington and Beijing carry direct economic and security implications, making communication with the US administration a key part of Tokyo’s regional diplomacy.

The Japanese government has not released details of any specific agreements resulting from the telephone conversation, but confirmed that both leaders agreed to continue close cooperation on China-related matters and broader regional stability.