U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday abandoned his call for Japan, NATO, South Korea and others to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, an abrupt about face less than a day before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was to depart for a key summit in Washington with the American leader.
“Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea,” Trump wrote on social media. “In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”
Asked Wednesday in parliament about Trump’s social media post, Takaichi said she intends to engage in “in-depth discussions” with the president on the situation in Iran and across the globe.