A senior official stated that deciding to send Japanese military ships to the Middle East for escort missions would encounter significant obstacles, following President Donald Trump’s expression of desire for Tokyo to assist the US in maintaining the Strait of Hormuz “open and safe.”
“Although not legally prohibited, considering the current conflict, this matter requires prudent consideration,” stated Takayuki Kobayashi, policy chief of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, in an interview with public broadcaster NHK on Sunday.
Kobayashi’s remarks in response to Trump were made just days before Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s scheduled trip to Washington. The war in Iran had already cast a shadow over Japan’s intentions to strengthen its alliance with the US and negotiate trade and investment agreements at the March 19 summit.
Read more: Trump Calls for Countries to Send Warships to Reopen Hormuz
Japan’s economy depends significantly on Middle Eastern oil. However, the nation, which has upheld a pacifist constitution for eighty years, has not established a definitive position on the Iran conflict. Survey data indicates that the majority of voters are against the war.
On Wednesday, Takaichi declared that Japan would withdraw 80 million barrels from its strategic petroleum reserves, preceding an International Energy Agency decision to release an unprecedented 400 million barrels from emergency stockpiles.
When questioned on the matter in parliament last week, Takaichi indicated that Tokyo currently has no intention of sending minesweepers to clear mines near the strait, at least pending the end of hostilities between the US, Israel, and Iran.
Kobayashi suggested on Sunday that, considering Trump’s tendency to shift his messaging, Takaichi should leverage her personal relationship with him to discern his actual objectives.
“We must determine his genuine desires. That is the top priority.”