Diplomatic New Year

At the beginning of 2026, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has been involved in diplomatic issues, which were quickly developing. Following air raids of the United States Force on Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, Takaichi issued a comment to promote democracy in Venezuela. In the telephone talk with U.S. President Donald Trump two days before, she was invited to the U.S. in this spring. While she hopes to enhance Japanese economy this year, Takaichi faces a necessity of delicate handlings of diplomacy. 

It was the evening of January 3rd when the news arrived in Tokyo that U.S. Forces carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and captured its president Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Takaichi commented in her account on X that she was in charge of the issue sending order to diplomatic sector, having close cooperation with related countries and putting priority on securing safety of life of the Japanese.

 

“Our country has been paying respect to basic value of freedom, democracy and rule of law. Based on those consistent standpoints, Japanese government is going to make diplomatic efforts for restoring democracy and stability in Venezuela through close coordination with related countries including G7 or countries in the region,” said Takaichi in X on January 4th, indicating that she had been concerning the situation of democracy in Venezuela. Her first priority must be keeping moderate relationship with Trump administration.

 

Her willingness to cultivate relationship with Trump was seen in a telephone talk with Trump two days before. Takaichi congratulated 250th anniversary of the United States this year, knowing that Trump is looking forward to celebration of the anniversary in July. She announced that two leaders reconfirmed further deepening of the bilateral relations between Japan and the U.S., including economic and security issues.

 

One of her most important schedules in diplomacy in 2026 is visiting the U.S in the spring. Trump agreed with Chinese President Xi Jinping last November that he would visit Beijing in April 2026. The approach of Trump and Xi was not a good news for Takaichi, who exacerbated bilateral relations between Japan and China with her reference to Japan’s possible use of force in case of contingency in Taiwan. Takaichi hopes to visit Washington, D.C. in March, a month before Xi’s visit, to talk with Trump about strategy to deal with China’s ambition of annexing Taiwan.

 

In her new year statement, Takaichi stressed her efforts to “raise Japan’s presence in international society,” including participation in multi-lateral conference of ASEAN, APEC or G20 after she sworn in as the prime minister last October. However, her statement was rather focused on economic growth, emphasizing her measures to overcome price inflation.

 

Takaichi reminded the people of a sentiment the Japanese people expected high economic growth in Showa era that “tomorrow would be better than today.” But consecutive events of foreign affairs in first days of this year can be auguring her year of diplomacy.

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