Japan and Italy to cooperate on critical minerals

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni agreed to work together on critical mineral supply and elevate their relationship to a new level.

“We agreed that cooperating to strengthen the resilience of our critical mineral supply chains is of utmost urgency,” Takaichi told reporters in Tokyo after their meeting on Friday.

The push for closer ties comes as Japan seeks to strengthen its supply chain resilience, with a diplomatic standoff raising uncertainties over China’s rare earths supply to Japan.

Takaichi added that the two countries would launch a dialogue on space issues, and that ties between them would be raised to a new level of “special strategic partnership”.

Meloni said through a translator that there is alignment between Japan and Italy in seeking a peace achieved through a free and open order. A joint statement with more details is set to be released later in the day.

State-run China Daily reported earlier this month that Beijing is considering tighter export license reviews for certain medium and heavy rare earth–related items bound for Japan. Such a move would be a blow to Japan’s economy given the reliance of its huge autos industry on such minerals.

Deeper ties between Japan and Italy may reflect the personal affinity between the two leaders.

Takaichi and Meloni are both the first female premiers of their respective nations. They went viral last year for an enthusiastic embrace captured in videos from the sidelines of the Group of Twenty summit held in South Africa.

They again emphasized their closeness on Friday, with Takaichi wishing Meloni a happy birthday as she opened her speech. The two were set to huddle with female cabinet ministers later in the day.

(By Sakura Murakami)