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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Paul Lee] TOKYO, October 29, 2025 — During his visit to Japan, U.S. President Donald Trump called on Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to suspend imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to a report by the Nikkei Shimbun on Tuesday.
Citing multiple government sources, Nikkei reported that Trump made the request during a bilateral luncheon on October 28, pressing Japan to stop purchasing Russian LNG as part of Washington’s broader effort to tighten global pressure on Moscow.
In response, Prime Minister Takaichi reportedly told Trump that such a move would be difficult, noting that Japan remains involved in Russia’s Sakhalin-2 energy project, in which Japanese companies hold stakes.
“If Japan pulls out, it will only please China and Russia,” Takaichi was quoted as saying, seeking Trump’s understanding of Japan’s position.
Kyodo News also reported that Takaichi conveyed her intention to continue importing Russian LNG for the time being, emphasizing Japan’s energy security concerns.
Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant had raised a similar request during a meeting with former Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato in Washington, D.C., on September 15.
The Trump administration has been urging U.S. allies—including the European Union (EU), the G7 nations, and India—to suspend imports of Russian energy in response to Moscow’s ongoing geopolitical actions. The EU has already announced plans to phase out Russian LNG imports by the end of next year.
Japan, however, has resisted such calls, citing its heavy reliance on Russian energy and the potential impact on domestic supply. Russian LNG currently accounts for around 9% of Japan’s total imports.
Japanese trading houses Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corp. both hold stakes in the Sakhalin-2 project, a key energy development in Russia’s Far East region.
알파경제 Paul Lee 특파원(hoondork1977@alphabiz.co.kr)
