Japan’s First Female Prime Minister Pledges Stronger Ties with Trump, Early Defence Spending Boost

Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, has vowed to strengthen ties with the United States under President Donald Trump and speed up Japan’s defence spending, promising to hit the government’s target of two percent of GDP two years ahead of schedule.

In her first policy speech to parliament on Friday, Takaichi said Japan must respond decisively to growing threats from China, North Korea, and Russia. “The free and stable international order we rely on is being shaken,” she declared, pledging deeper military cooperation with Washington.

Takaichi, Japan’s first woman to hold the position and a known admirer of Margaret Thatcher, said she aims to build “a relationship of trust” with Trump, who is due in Tokyo next week before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.

China’s foreign ministry criticised Japan’s plan to boost defence spending, saying it raises doubts about Tokyo’s commitment to peaceful development.

At home, Takaichi faces economic and demographic challenges. Inflation rose to 2.9 percent in September, and Japan’s shrinking workforce continues to strain growth. She promised measures to ease the cost of living while enforcing stricter compliance rules on foreign workers, saying the government “will act firmly against illegal activity” but maintain fairness in society.

Her appointment has lifted investor confidence, with Japanese stocks hitting record highs this week. However, analysts say she must quickly stabilise her fragile coalition and balance hawkish defence goals with public demand for economic relief.