New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Receives US Congratulations

Japan’s legislature, the National Diet, on Tuesday elected 64-year-old Sanae Takaichi—a tough, conservative politician—as the country’s first female prime minister. Her election has been met with a congratulatory message from the United States, which affirmed its commitment to strengthening the critical alliance between the two nations.

Dependable NG reports that the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, released a statement declaring the administration’s readiness to work closely with the new Japanese government. The Secretary emphasised the importance of the U.S.–Japan alliance, highlighting the desire to deepen cooperation, build economic prosperity, and enhance regional security. This is a clear signal from the US of its immediate priority to engage with the new leadership in Tokyo.

Secretary Rubio also took a moment to praise the outgoing leader, former Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, for his commitment to pursuing a “new golden age for U.S.–Japan relations and upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific.” Ishiba, 68, had resigned in September following an eleven-month tenure after facing pressure to step down in the wake of a significant electoral defeat in July’s parliamentary election.

The new Prime Minister, Takaichi, previously served as Minister of State for Economic Security from 2022 to 2024. An admirer of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, she has expressed a firm determination to build a strong Japanese economy and protect Japan’s national interests through effective diplomacy and security policies. Her rise to the top post follows her loss in a runoff against Ishiba in the Liberal Democratic Party leadership race in 2024.

The first major diplomatic test for the new Japanese leader is fast approaching, as President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Japan on October 27. The President’s visit to Tokyo is part of a broader Asian tour that includes a stop in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit and a trip to South Korea, where he is also expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The new administration’s ability to quickly establish a working relationship with the US will be closely watched by international observers.