Sanae Takaichi and Donald Trump showed off their new friendship to troops on USS George Washington. Photo: AP PHOTO

US President Donald Trump has lavished praise on Japan's first female leader Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo, welcoming her pledge to accelerate a military build-up and signing deals on trade and rare earths.

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Takaichi, a protegee of Trump's late friend and golfing buddy Japanese leader Shinzo Abe, applauded Trump's push to resolve global conflicts, vowing to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to Trump's spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt.

Japan is also expected to o

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