French President Macron may visit Japan in March for talks with Takaichi

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit Japan later this month for talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on regional security and economic issues, government sources announced Tuesday.

The discussions arrive amid escalating U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which Macron warns could spark wider conflict; France plans to boost its nuclear warheads in response. Schedules remain fluid based on Middle East developments.

As G7 president this year, Macron and Takaichi will address Indo-Pacific tensions, Ukraine support against Russia’s ongoing invasion, and resilient supply chains for rare earths—Japan’s push to counter China’s export curbs through allied networks.

Takaichi aims to signal transatlantic unity with Macron, despite Macron’s past tariff clashes with U.S. President Donald Trump; Tokyo hopes to bridge U.S.-Europe divides. The visit underscores Japan’s caution over Macron’s December China trip and a proposed Xi Jinping invite to France’s June G7 summit, following backlash to Takaichi’s November comments on potential Self-Defense Forces action in a Taiwan crisis.