Generally, with the change of the political command in a democracy, its foreign policy direction, too, goes some transformation. Will it happen in Japan after the election of Sanae Takaichi as its new Prime Minister and have any effects on Tokyo’s relations with Washington? Observers say the prospects of Tokyo- Washington ties are rather far brighter under Takaich’s leadership.

She is a protégé of the country’s legendary Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In Abe’s first term as Prime Minister, Takaichi held five ministerial portfolios, including a record-breaking tenure as the Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications. Prime Minister Abe appointed her in 2012 in his second term too. She was ideologically always very close to Abe. She is likely to follow Abe’s pro–US policies and take steps aimed at attaining new heights........

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