Japan Seeks Ways to Ensure Safety of its Ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan was considering what it could do under the law to ensure the safety of Japanese ships and their crews in the Middle East amid the US-Israeli war with Iran.

As reported by ANTARA from Kyodo, Monday, March 16, Takaichi's statement during the parliamentary session came after US President Donald Trump demanded that other countries, including Japan, deploy warships to the Strait of Hormuz to secure oil shipments.

Answering questions from opposition lawmakers about whether Japan would deploy the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) ships, Takaichi said it was difficult to answer hypothetical questions because the United States (US) had not made such a request.

But Takaichi insisted his government was considering "necessary responses."

Takaichi also said he would convey Japan's views on the Middle East situation to Trump when they hold summit talks scheduled for this weekend in Washington.

Meanwhile, Defense 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 percent of Japan's crude oil and 11 percent of its liquefied natural gas.

Koizumi told Hegseth it was very important for Japan and the international community to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East, including the Strait of Hormuz, and Tokyo would communicate with relevant countries including the US, the ministry said.

Hegseth said the situation in the Middle East would not require any changes to the US troop posture in Japan, reiterating the commitment of the United States to strengthen the bilateral alliance's deterrence and response capabilities, according to the ministry.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump said on social media he wanted Japan and other countries to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the security of the vital energy supply route, which was 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 placed mines in the strait but stressed that it would carry out strict surveillance in the Strait of Hormuz, and other countries that had obstacles to obtaining oil would join in.