Japan not planning Hormuz escort mission, Prime Minister Takaichi says

TOKYO — Japan has no plans to dispatch naval vessels to escort ships in the Middle East, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday, following a call by U.S. President Donald Trump for allies to protect tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done within the legal framework,” Takaichi told parliament.

Trump urged U.S. allies, including Japan, to help safeguard oil and gas shipments through the strategic waterway. The request places Tokyo in a difficult position, as Japan relies heavily on Middle East energy while its pacifist constitution limits overseas military operations.

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has carried out anti-piracy missions near the Middle East, but those were policing operations rather than combat missions against state actors. While Japan can deploy its military overseas in response to threats deemed existential to the nation, doing so would be politically sensitive and legally challenging for Takaichi’s government to justify.

Takaichi is scheduled to travel to Washington this week for talks with Trump, which will address the conflict with Iran.

“I would like to engage in solid discussions based on Japan’s views and position regarding the need for early de-escalation,” she told lawmakers.

-Reporting by Tim Kelly; Editing by Michael Perry and Raju Gopalakrishnan/Reuters