Trump Arrives in Tokyo to Strengthen US-Japan Alliance, Summit with PM Takaichi

October 27, 2025

Tokyo: US President Donald Trump arrived in Tokyo on Monday afternoon for a two-day official working visit to Japan, the second leg of his three-nation Asia tour.

During his stay, Trump will meet Emperor Naruhito and hold a US-Japan Summit with newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, aimed at reinforcing the long-standing alliance between the two nations.

Tokyo Landmarks Lit Up in US Colours

To mark Trump’s arrival, several of Tokyo’s iconic landmarks — including the Tokyo Skytree, Tokyo Tower, and the Metropolitan Government Building — were illuminated in red, white and blue, reflecting the colours of the US flag.

“Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow and having a fruitful discussion on how we can further strengthen our great Alliance. Special lighting honouring President Trump’s visit is now illuminating landmarks across Tokyo!”
— Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, on X (formerly Twitter)

This marks Trump’s fourth visit to Japan as President and his first since June 2019.

‘Extremely Meaningful Opportunity’ — Japan Foreign Ministry

Japan’s Foreign Ministry described the visit as “an extremely meaningful opportunity to further strengthen the Japan-US alliance.”

On October 25, while attending ASEAN-related Summits in Kuala Lumpur, PM Takaichi held a telephone conversation with President Trump, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation.

“Strengthening the Japan-US alliance is a top priority for Japan’s foreign and security policies,” the ministry said, adding that Takaichi also expressed her intent to work with the US toward realizing a ‘Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)’ vision.

Shared Vision and Strategic Cooperation

Trump praised Takaichi’s leadership and recalled her close association with former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying,

“Abe was a great friend of mine. He liked her a lot, she liked him a lot. So that’s a good sign. I look forward to meeting her.”

According to Kyodo News, discussions between the two leaders are expected to focus on defence cooperation, shipbuilding partnerships, and supply chain resilience for critical minerals vital to high-tech industries.

Both nations are also expected to finalise agreements to expand US farm exports to Japan and boost joint shipbuilding capacity, part of Trump’s initiative to revive US maritime manufacturing amid China’s growing dominance in the sector.

Naval Base Visit Planned

To underscore the strength of the Japan-US security alliance, PM Takaichi is scheduled to accompany President Trump aboard Marine One for a visit to a US naval base near Tokyo, where they will tour the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington.

Trump will depart for South Korea on Wednesday morning, the final leg of his Asia tour.