U.S. President Donald Trump and Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a summit on the morning of the 19th (local time) at the White House in Washington, D.C.
Takaichi was the first among the countries pressed to dispatch forces to the Strait of Hormuz to meet Trump face to face that day. The day before departing, Takaichi said at the National Diet, "We will do what we can under the law, and make it clear that what we cannot do, we cannot do." In fact, immediately after the talks, Takaichi met with Japanese reporters and, regarding sending naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz, said, "There are things we can and cannot do within the scope of Japan's laws, so I explained that in detail," without clearly stating whether she would accept.
In her opening remarks released to the press that day, Prime Minister Takaichi openly praised President Trump. After noting that the global security environment is very grave, she said, "I think the only person who will bring peace and prosperity to the world is Donald (President Trump), and I intend to firmly support him," adding, "Iran's development of nuclear weapons cannot be tolerated. Japan 'our country' criticizes attacks on neighboring countries by (Iran) and the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz."
Takaichi also brought an "investment package" for President Trump. Just a month after she released a first-phase U.S. investment project worth $36 billion (about 54 trillion won) last month, she delivered a plan that day for up to $73 billion (about 109 trillion won), double the size. According to Kyodo News, this included cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector, such as building small modular reactors (SMR) and natural gas power plants. She said such cooperation is a very important area given rising power demand and the situation in the Middle East.