Japan’s Sanae Takaichi’s high-stakes meeting with Trump

03/18/2026March 18, 2026

US President Donald Trump wants allies to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. Japan can’t join Trump’s war, but on her visit to the US, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is bringing him a different kind of deal.

https://p.dw.com/p/5Aeq0

On her visit to the White House, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi faces a dilemma: What should Japan do about the war against Iran? US President Donald Trump has been calling on Japan and other allies to send warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Japan can’t do that – but it is preparing something else he might say yes to. DW breaks down the high‑stakes offer Takaichi is bringing to Washington.

Tomi Oladipo Tomi Oladipo is a British-born Nigerian journalist based in Berlin.