Japan seeks legal means to ensure vessel safety in Strait of Hormuz
Tokyo — Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated on Monday, 16 March, that Japan is considering what it can do in accordance with law to ensure the safety of Japanese vessels and their crews in the Middle East amid the US-Israel war with Iran.
Takaichi’s remarks during the parliamentary session came after US President Donald Trump demanded that other nations, including Japan, deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure oil shipments.
Responding to an opposition parliamentary member’s question about whether Japan would deploy Self-Defence Force (SDF) vessels, Takaichi said it was difficult to answer a hypothetical question because the United States has not made such a request, but his government was considering “necessary responses.”
Takaichi also stated he would convey Japan’s views on the Middle East situation to Trump when they hold a scheduled summit meeting this weekend in Washington.
Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the government currently has no plans to send the SDF to the Middle East, which is the source of more than 90 per cent of Japan’s crude oil and 11 per cent of its liquefied natural gas.
Koizumi told US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth that it was crucial for Japan and the international community to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tokyo would communicate with relevant nations including the US, according to the ministry.
Hegseth stated that the situation in the Middle East would not require any changes to the posture of US forces in Japan, reaffirming US commitment to strengthening bilateral alliance deterrence and response capabilities, according to the ministry.
Earlier on Saturday, Trump stated on social media that he wanted Japan and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the security of that vital energy shipping lane, which has been effectively blocked by Iran in response to attacks launched by the US and Israel late last month.
In an interview with NBC News, Trump said it was unclear whether Iran had laid mines in the strait but emphasised that there would be strict surveillance of the Strait of Hormuz, and other nations experiencing obstacles in obtaining oil would join in.