U.S. President Donald Trump reversed his push for Japan to join a naval coalition securing the Strait of Hormuz, just before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's summit with him in Washington. This follows his earlier sharp criticism of NATO allies for refusing similar support.
U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly aborted his call for Japan and other nations to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz, amid escalating tensions in the US-Iran war that has disrupted the vital oil chokepoint, according to The Japan Times on March 18.
The reversal came less than a day before Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's departure for a Washington summit with Trump, where the Iran conflict is expected to overshadow discussions on strengthening US-Japan ties. Earlier, on March 17, Takaichi had been weighing responses to Trump's pressure, including potential endorsement of a 'coalition of like-minded nations' for freedom of navigation operations.
Tokyo officials have denied plans for immediate Self-Defense Forces (SDF) deployment, though US requests are likely to feature prominently in the talks. This development follows Trump's Monday criticism of NATO allies—such as Germany—for rejecting involvement, where he labeled their stance a 'stupid mistake' and hinted at US withdrawal from the alliance.
Key themes: US-Japan alliance, Trump foreign policy, Iran war, Middle East instability, and global energy security.
