HANOI — Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will visit Vietnam from May 1 to May 3 and Australia from May 3 to May 5, with an agenda covering energy security, critical minerals, and China's maritime posture. Takaichi is expected to deliver a foreign policy address in Hanoi outlining a revised Indo-Pacific strategy.

The address is expected to announce a revised version of Japan's "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy. The original strategy was proposed by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2013. The revised strategy is expected to focus on three pillars: strengthening economic foundations; pursuing growth through shared challenges; and deepening security cooperation.

Takaichi, who took office as Prime Minister of Japan in October 2025, is expected to explore cooperation on oil security during her summit with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung. Vietnam has requested Japan's assistance in securing oil supplies.

Critical minerals are also on the agenda. Japan has invested in diversifying its critical minerals supply away from Chinese sources, a strategy that is a central feature of its relationships with Australia and Vietnam. The Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation established a rare earth research and technology transfer center in Vietnam in 2012.

Vietnam holds some of the world's largest rare earth reserves, but its production and refining capacity remain limited. During her visit, Takaichi may seek to address the gap between Vietnam's reserves and its production and refining capacity.

Japan is Vietnam's largest Official Development Assistance donor and its largest labor cooperation partner. Japan is also Vietnam's third-largest investor, with $78.6 billion in registered capital. The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023.