Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s first attendance at this week’s G7 summit aims to turn her rapport with Donald Trump into a bridge between the US president and the bloc’s leaders, as she seeks to cement her image as Japan’s “Iron Lady”. During a working dinner at the three-day meeting which began in Evian, eastern France, on Monday, Takaichi also proposed a joint strategic stockpile partnership to boost critical mineral supply chains and dent China’s dominance in the sector. “I want to discuss urgent issues frankly with other leaders and demonstrate the G7’s unity in leading the international community’s response to the issues,” she told reporters ahead of the trip, her first to Europe since taking office last October. “As a representative of Asia, I’m eager to express Japan’s position and efforts, including the perspective of the Indo-Pacific region.” Rintaro Nishimura, senior associate at The Asia Group consultancy, said Takaichi’s presence at the summit would help ease Trump’s friction with other G7 leaders who have expressed displeasure over Washington’s trade tariffs and foreign policy. “Takaichi has maintained positive relations with the G7 nations, including good rapport with Trump while seeking deeper cooperation with European partners in areas ranging from defence and economic security,” Nishimura said.