The Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe. (Image via The Japan Times)

Japan will not join the U.S to the Gulf

As Iran is going against the world, the international community deploys warships to escort shipments passing through the Strait of Hormuz after the seizure of British-flagged oil tanker, Stena Impero, by the Iranian force. Since then, the U.S then gathered the world in a joint effort to tackle the seizure by the Iranian force.

Japan, as one of the U.S’ closest allies, stated the contrary. Tokyo stated that Japan would not join the U.S in the joint mission to protect the shipments passing through the Gulf. However, Japan was rumored to deploy its naval force on a personal agenda.

Japan’s naval force, Maritime Self-Defense Force (SDF) is going to be deployed on an intel mission to areas around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab between Yemen, Djibouti, and Eritrea opening possibilities that the scale of activity might be broadened to the Gulf.

Japan and Iran have been maintaining close bilateral relations as Iran was the supplier of crude oil to Japan. However, since the sanctions by the U.S, Japan finds it hard to look for another oil supplier.

On the upcoming United Nations (UN) General Assembly (UNGA) held from 23-27 September, the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, wants to meet President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani to talk about the restoration of stability for Iran and the world. The talk will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA while the time of the meeting is still undecided.

Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-iran-japan/japan-wont-join-u-s-led-maritime-coalition-in-gulf-newspaper-idUSKCN1VO02T?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+Worl