“I’m delighted to report that I’ve just approved the first batch of missiles,” Trump told U.S. troops on board. “They’ll arrive this week, so they’re ahead of schedule.”
The announcement comes as part of Trump’s ongoing three-nation Asia tour and follows discussions on strengthening U.S.-Japan defense cooperation.
In his remarks, Trump underlined the importance of maintaining U.S. military superiority. “From now on, if we’re in a war, we’re going to win the war. We’re going to win it like nobody ever before,” he said.
He also highlighted U.S. naval and technological capabilities, asserting, “There’s no military like our military, not even close. Nobody has our weapons, and it’ll be stronger and more powerful than ever before very soon.”
Trump noted that advanced systems alone are not enough without capable personnel. “If you don’t have the right people to operate those weapons, they don’t mean much,” he added.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who joined Trump during the address, reaffirmed Tokyo’s intention to strengthen defense cooperation with Washington and contribute to regional stability.
Takaichi described the USS George Washington as a “symbol of protecting freedom and peace in the region” and pledged that Japan will “proactively contribute” to peace in the Asia-Pacific.
Citing her predecessor Shinzo Abe’s vision for a “free and open Indo-Pacific,” she said her government would continue that commitment “with unwavering determination and action.”
“In an unprecedented, severe security environment, Japan will fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities,” Takaichi said, vowing to take the U.S.-Japan alliance “to even greater, greater heights.”
Takaichi has pledged to raise Japan’s defense spending to around 2% of GDP—two years ahead of earlier plans.
Under the U.S.-Japan mutual defense treaty, more than 50,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed in Japan, alongside extensive weapons systems and bases.
