Japanese PM tries to reaffirm alliance with Trump

Donald Trump greets Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office (Alex Brandon/AP)

Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi sought to reaffirm her alliance with Donald Trump after the US president this week complained that Japan was among the nations that did not join his call to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

Ms Takaichi, who met with Mr Trump at the White House, told the president that Japan has opposed Iran’s development of its nuclear programme and appealed to his desire to be seen as a peacemaker, despite launching a war of choice with Iran, by telling him through an interpreter: “Even against that backdrop, I firmly believe that it is only you, Donald, who can achieve peace across the world.”