The United States government has congratulated Sanae Takaichi on her election as Japan’s first female Prime Minister, pledging to deepen cooperation and strengthen the long-standing U.S.–Japan alliance.
In a statement on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington looks forward to working with Takaichi’s administration to boost economic prosperity and enhance regional security across the Indo-Pacific.
Rubio also commended former Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru for his “commitment to a new golden age for U.S.–Japan relations” and his efforts to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit Japan on October 27, following his trip to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit. During his Asia tour, Trump will also travel to South Korea, where he is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the APEC summit.
The 64-year-old Takaichi, elected Tuesday by Japan’s National Diet, is widely regarded as a tough conservative and a staunch advocate of national security. Before her election, she served as Minister of State for Economic Security between 2022 and 2024.
In her acceptance speech, Takaichi vowed to “build a resilient Japanese economy and protect national interests through diplomacy and strength.” A known admirer of former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, she previously lost the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race to Ishiba in 2024.
Ishiba, 68, resigned in September after serving just eleven months, stepping down in the wake of the LDP’s historic parliamentary defeat in July.
As Japan ushers in a new era under Takaichi’s leadership, global attention turns to how her policies will shape the country’s future and its strategic role in the Asia-Pacific region.
