Japan could consider sending its Self-Defense Forces to help clear naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said the move would only be considered if the fighting stops completely but the key maritime route remains blocked by mines. The development comes as global concerns grow over disruptions in one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.
Strait of Hormuz crucial for global oil supply
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the busiest and most strategically important shipping routes in the world. Around 20 per cent of global oil supplies pass through this route every day.
Japan is particularly dependent on the strait, as nearly 90 per cent of its oil imports come through this corridor. Due to the ongoing conflict in the region, Iran has largely restricted passage through the waterway. The fighting has now entered its fourth week, creating uncertainty for global energy markets and pushing up fuel prices worldwide.
Speaking on a Fuji TV programme, Motegi said that clearing naval mines could become an option if the conflict ends but shipping remains unsafe due to mines. However, he stressed that the situation is still hypothetical and any decision would depend on developments after a full ceasefire.
Legal limits on Japan’s military operations
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces operate under strict rules set by the country’s post-war pacifist constitution. The constitution limits the use of military force to situations involving direct self-defence.
However, security legislation passed in 2015 allows Japan to deploy its forces overseas in certain situations. These include cases where a crisis threatens Japan’s survival or significantly affects the security of a close partner nation and no other solution is available.
The risk to oil supplies has already forced Japan and some other countries to release oil from their emergency reserves to stabilise markets.
