Takaichi landslide puts Japan at crossroads: Trump ally or 'G6' anchor?

Takaichi landslide puts Japan at crossroads: Trump ally or 'G6' anchor?

WASHINGTON -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's landslide on Sunday hands her a sweeping mandate, and a set of consequential choices that could reshape Indo-Pacific politics.

Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump see her as a potential pivotal ally for his unorthodox diplomacy, even floating the idea of a Japanese diplomatic opening to Russia, with which Tokyo still lacks a peace treaty. They argue such a move could align with Trump's own approach to Moscow.

Europe, meanwhile, hopes Takaichi will anchor a de facto "Group of Six" without the U.S., helping to shore up the liberal order at a moment of global uncertainty.

And China may need to rethink its pressure campaign against the prime minister, who they see as too hawkish. Beijing's response to her Taiwan comments ultimately strengthened Takaichi's hand at home and helped set the stage for her electoral landslide, analysts say.