Tokyo: Japan's first female Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, vowed Tuesday to "bring back" diplomacy and to boost ties with the US. "I will bring back Japan's diplomacy to the center of the world to flourish," Takaichi said at her first news conference after being elected.

According to Anadolu Agency, Takaichi emphasized the urgency of addressing both domestic and international challenges, asserting that Japan faces major crises and cannot afford to stand by idly. She highlighted that her Cabinet ministers are committed to fulfilling their respective missions in the lower and upper houses, despite the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japan Innovation Party (JIP) not holding a majority.

Takaichi acknowledged the challenges faced by the minority ruling bloc but remained resolute, stating, "It will be rough sailing ahead, but I will never give up. Our cabinet stands for resolve and advancement." She outlined critical issues on her agenda, including controlling commodity price increases, establishing a backup system to secure metropolitan functions, implementing social security reform, and revising the Constitution.

Addressing economic concerns, Takaichi assured that the government would do its utmost to mitigate the impact of US tariffs. She also expressed enthusiasm for upcoming diplomatic engagements, referring to the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and the APEC summit in South Korea as opportunities to promote "a free and open Indo-Pacific."

US President Donald Trump is anticipated to attend the ASEAN summit and visit South Korea and Japan, a move he described as "tremendous news for the incredible people of Japan" on his Truth Social platform. Takaichi reiterated the importance of the Japan-US alliance, stating it as the foundation of Japan's diplomatic and security policies, with plans to discuss a wide range of issues beyond bilateral matters, including the Indo-Pacific, Middle East, Europe, and Ukraine.

Takaichi expressed her intent to discuss Japan's defense capabilities with Trump, emphasizing the importance of enhancing Japan's own defense systems while maintaining cooperation with the United States.