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Trump reaffirmed ‘ironclad’ US-Japan alliance after China trip, Japan’s Takaichi says

By Thomson Reuters May 15, 2026 | 6:57 AM

TOKYO, May 15 (Reuters) – Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said on ​Friday she and ‌U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed an “ironclad” bilateral alliance in a phone call, which Trump ‌joined ​from aboard ⁠Air Force One ⁠hours after ending his two-day visit to China.

“We exchanged views on ​issues surrounding China, including the economy and ⁠security…and reaffirmed ⁠close communication on Indo-Pacific ​issues,” Takaichi told reporters ​after the call.

Issues related to ‌Iran were also discussed and Takaichi said she shared Japan’s stance ⁠on those with Trump. She did not answer a reporter’s ⁠question ‌on whether they ⁠discussed Taiwan.

Trump “briefed me ​in ‌detail (on his China ​visit) on ⁠the condition that our conversation remain confidential,” Takaichi said.

(Reporting by Kantaro Komiya;Editing by Alison Williams, Alexandra ​Hudson)