US Says Japanese PM Ready to Deploy Navy to Hormuz

Istanbul (ANTARA) - The US envoy to the UN, Mike Waltz, said on Sunday (22/3) that Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has committed to deploying part of its navy for operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Because so much energy is shipped to Europe through that strait, the new Japanese Prime Minister has just committed to deploying part of its navy, and 80 per cent of the energy coming out of the Gulf is shipped to Asia,” Waltz said in an interview with CBS News.

“So, we are seeing our allies turn around as they should, but at the same time, the president (Donald Trump) will not tolerate this regime, because it has threatened and tried for five decades to hold the world’s energy supply hostage,” he added.

Tokyo has also signalled the possibility of deploying Self-Defence Forces (SDF) for mine-sweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached between Iran, the US, and Israel.

“Japan’s mine-sweeping technology is at the top level in the world. Let’s say (if there is) a ceasefire, and if mines become an obstacle, we may need to consider it,” said Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, referring to the potential deployment of the SDF.

Motegi, who attended Japan-US summit talks in Washington last Thursday, said that “no specific promises” were made and there are no issues requiring further consideration in Tokyo.

US-Israel attacks on Iran began on 28 February, with Tehran retaliating through repeated drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets.

Japan imports about 90 per cent of its crude oil from the Middle East, mostly passing through the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: Anadolu