USS George Washington visit sees Trump announce Japan F-35 missiles
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
President Donald Trump told U.S. troops aboard the USS George Washington at Japan’s Yokosuka Naval Base on Tuesday that the first batch of missiles for Japan’s F-35 fighter jets “will arrive this week,” indicating that U.S. defense deliveries to Tokyo are ahead of schedule.
The comments came during Trump’s hour-long address to sailors as part of a wide Asia tour that also includes Malaysia before Japan, where he met with Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female prime minister, and signed a new U.S.-Japan framework agreement on rare earth minerals. Later this week, Trump is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Washington has approved several major arms sales to Japan, including advanced AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles designed for F-35s.
TRUMP SUED JAPAN’S EMPEROR AND NEW PRIME MINISTER AHEAD OF THE HIGH QUANTITIES XI SUMMIT THIS WEEK
President Donald Trump, along with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, speaks with military members aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Trump praised the United States’ alliance with Japan, calling it “one of the most remarkable relationships in the entire world.”
President Donald Trump speaks with military members aboard the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier docked at the American naval base in Yokosuka, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Sharing the same stage with Trump, Prime Minister Takaichi said that Japan was “determined to fundamentally strengthen its defense capacity” and was “ready to contribute more proactively to peace and stability in the region.”
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with military members aboard the USS George Washington at the U.S. Navy’s Yokosuka base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)
Trump also praised Japanese and US stock markets hitting record highs, saying it was a sign “we’re doing something right.”
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Trump’s arrival underscored Washington’s deepening security cooperation with Tokyo as regional tensions with China and North Korea continue. Ahead of this week’s trip to Asia, Trump repeatedly invited him to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but no concrete preparations were made.
