Japan's Prime Minister has stated that the country currently has no plans to dispatch naval vessels to the Middle East for escort missions. This follows previous calls from former US President Donald Trump for allied nations to assist in protecting oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The Prime Minister addressed the Diet, clarifying that no decision has been made regarding sending escort ships. She emphasized that Japan is continuously studying what independent actions it can take and what operations are feasible within the existing legal framework.
Observers note that the public appeal from the former US President for allies, including Japan, to protect energy shipments through the strategic waterway placed Tokyo in a difficult position. Japan's pacifist constitution imposes limitations on the scope of overseas military operations it can undertake.
The Prime Minister clarified that the United States has not yet submitted a formal request for assistance. Previously, US officials had publicly urged concerned nations to participate in the escort operations. Reports indicated that the former US President expressed expectations for countries like Japan to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Analysts suggest that the US might formally present this request during upcoming bilateral talks, potentially putting the Japanese government in a bind between legal constraints and diplomatic pressure. The timing of the former President's remarks was seen as sensitive, coinciding with the Japanese Prime Minister's impending visit to the US, thereby increasing pressure on Japan. On one hand, Japan's post-war constitution makes direct involvement in foreign conflicts challenging, and deploying ships to conflict zones carries significant risks. On the other hand, security legislation revised in 2015 provides some legal basis for overseas military activities. Furthermore, given Japan's heavy reliance on Middle Eastern oil, an outright refusal to the US is difficult.
Earlier, the former President posted on his social media platform, specifically naming Japan, South Korea, France, and the United Kingdom, hoping they would join the US in sending naval ships to escort tankers. This raised speculation that the former President might publicly seek a response from the Japanese leader during her US visit, potentially causing diplomatic awkwardness. The White House declined to comment on these speculations, and the Japanese Embassy in the US also refrained from issuing a statement.
In a related development concerning energy security, the Japanese government initiated the release of a record amount of oil from its national reserves. The total release amounts to approximately 80 million barrels, equivalent to about 45 days of domestic petroleum consumption, marking a historic scale.
This release will be conducted in phases, starting with stocks held by private entities, followed by the national reserve. Japanese law mandates that private companies maintain petroleum reserves. The government issued a notice reducing the mandatory reserve obligation for companies from 70 days' worth of consumption to 55 days, thereby allowing companies to release an amount equivalent to 15 days' consumption to the market. Subsequently, the government plans to release approximately one month's worth of national reserves starting from late March.
According to data from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, as of the end of 2025, Japan's total petroleum reserves are equivalent to 254 days of domestic consumption. This comprises a national reserve equivalent to 146 days, private sector reserves equivalent to 101 days, and joint reserves with oil-producing nations equivalent to 7 days.