TOKYO, Nov 6, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump and expressed a wish to take the countries' alliance "to new heights" after Trump claimed victory in the US presidential election.

"I would like to congratulate Mr Trump on his victory and also pay tribute to the democratic choice of the people of the United States," Ishiba told reporters.

"I hope to work closely with Mr Trump to take the Japan-US alliance and Japan-US relationship to new heights."

Ishiba, who took office just over a month ago, added that he wanted to speak with Trump "as soon as possible".

When Trump last won a US election in 2016, then prime minister Shinzo Abe flew to New York to chat with the president-elect, becoming the first foreign leader to meet Trump at his Manhattan skyscraper.

Japan and the United States are each other's top foreign investors, and 54,000 US military personnel are stationed in Japan, mostly in the southern region of Okinawa.

Barack Obama in 2016 became the first sitting US president to visit Hiroshima, where around 140,000 people died in the US nuclear bombing nearly 80 years ago and its aftermath.

Prime Minister Ishiba led his ruling coalition to a disastrous loss of its majority in snap elections on October 27.

He is expected to lead a minority government or widen the coalition to include other parties.

In a post on X written in English, Ishiba offered his "heartfelt congratulations" to Trump.

"I truly look forward to working closely with you to further bolster the Japan-US Alliance & cooperate to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific," the post said.