Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sought to reaffirm her alliance with President Donald Trump after the president this week seemed to complain that Japan was among the nations that did not quickly join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.
Ms. Takaichi, who met with Mr. Trump at the White House, told the Republican President that Japan has opposed Iran's development of its nuclear programme and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite his launching a war of choice with Iran.
She told the U.S. President through an interpreter that in the West Asia and around the world now, there was “a very severe security environment,” but said, “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.” The two leaders had warm words for each other, including Trump calling the prime minister a “popular, powerful woman,” but there appeared to be some tension as they faced repeated questions from reporters about Japan's support for the Iran war.
As Mr. Trump took questions from reporters during the roughly 30-minute public appearance with the Prime <inister in the Oval Office before their closed-door meeting, Ms. Taikaichi could be seen checking her watch. And then Mr. Trump made a particularly uncomfortable remark -- invoking Japan's 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor -- when he was asked why the U.S. didn't notify allies like Japan ahead of the strikes on Iran.
