US President Donald Trump's visit to Japan is a leading topic in the Western press today. During the visit, Trump reassured the Japanese government about the future of the Treaty on Mutual Cooperation and Security, after his earlier statements raised concerns in Tokyo about the US commitment to the country's defense, notes the British newspaper The Times, reports BTA.
As part of the visit, the president signed an agreement on rare earth resources with the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, which the British Daily Telegraph points to as a strategic step against China's dominance in the sector.
The Japanese Prime Minister plans to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, emphasizes The Times. The two leaders announced the beginning of a "new golden era" in US-Japan relations, committing to expanded cooperation and investment in the extraction and processing of rare earth minerals, The Independent reports.
During the meeting, Trump congratulated Takaichi on her historic victory as Japan's first female prime minister, and the two repeatedly mentioned the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with whom Trump had a close relationship during his first term, The Guardian notes. Takaichi, a protégé of Abe and a follower of his hardline stance on China's military presence in the region, thanked the president for his support for the late leader.
Spain's El Mundo also said that the rapprochement between Trump and Takaichi opens a new chapter in the strategic security alliance that is crucial for democracies in the Pacific region.
The rare earths deal envisages expanding bilateral cooperation and mobilizing capital for the extraction and processing of minerals. France's Le Monde said the agreement includes joint projects to strengthen supply chains, including derivative products such as magnets, batteries and catalysts, with steps to be taken in the next six months to finance priority initiatives.