Japan-U.S. Meeting’s Success Brings Relief as Takaichi Shows Stance on Iran, Investments in U.S.

By Kazuhiko Hori and Shinji Abe / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

8:00 JST, March 22, 2026

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and U.S. President Donald Trump candidly exchanged opinions over the ongoing situation in Iran, Japan’s investment in the United States and policies on China during their meeting in Washington on Thursday.

The Yomiuri Shimbun analyzed the remarks the two leaders made during the roughly 30 minutes of the meeting the media was permitted to observe before it went behind closed doors.

Takaichi criticizes Iran

At the start of the meeting, Takaichi praised Trump. “It is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace and prosperity across the world,” she said. She then touched on the situation in the Middle East and criticized Iran.

“Iran’s development of nuclear weapons must never be allowed.” Takaichi said, adding that Japan has criticized Iran’s attacks on neighboring countries and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. She also said Japan would make sure to support Trump.

Japan traditionally has its own diplomatic relations with Iran. Therefore, there was concern within the government that Japanese vessels may become the targets of Iranian attacks if Japan stepped up its criticism of the country. However, Takaichi chose to navigate the meeting by making clear her stance of standing close to Trump.

In a joint statement released shortly before the meeting, the leaders of Japan and five other nations, including Britain, Germany and France, condemned “in the strongest terms” Iran’s de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. According to a Prime Minister’s Office source, Japan hoped through this statement to avoid Trump being isolated in the international arena.

At the start of the meeting with Takaichi, Trump touched on the statement and expressed praise for Japan. “We’ve had tremendous support and relationship with Japan on everything,” Trump said.

“We managed to get through what had been expected to be a tough meeting. The atmosphere at the meeting was great,” said a member of the Japan side, expressing relief.

Trump says Japan is unlike ‘NATO’

Trump praised Japan, contrasting it with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. “They are really stepping up to the plate,” the president said of Japan, “unlike NATO.”

He directed criticism at the security alliance due to frustrations over the distance European allies are keeping regarding the situation in Iran.

Unlike the Japan-U.S. security arrangement, which obliges only the United States to defend Japan, the North Atlantic Treaty stipulates that an armed attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against them all. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said NATO is not an alliance for military intervention, showing the divide between the United States and Europe.

“In the case of NATO, they don’t want to help us defend the strait, and they’re the ones that need it,” Trump also said in the meeting.

When Takaichi spoke about the up to $73 billion in investments in the United States by Japan based on the Japan-U.S. tariff agreement, Trump reportedly leaned forward to listen.

“Regarding investment in the United States, Japan, with its cooperative stance, has been more favorably received compared to European countries,” said a source who accompanied Takaichi on the U.S. trip.

Jeffrey Hornung, the Japan Lead for the RAND National Security Research Division, said the meeting with Takaichi sent a positive signal to Trump that U.S. allies would start supporting the country.