Japan and Italy to Elevate Ties, Cooperate on Critical Minerals

Sanae Takaichi, right, greets Giorgia Meloni, in Tokyo on Jan. 16. — Sanae Takaichi, right, greets Giorgia Meloni, in Tokyo on Jan. 16.Photographer: Toru Hanai/Bloomberg

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By Sakura Murakami

January 16, 2026 at 4:12 AM UTC

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.