Japan not currently mulling maritime ops despite Trump pressure over Hormuz

Deutsche Tageszeitung - Japan not currently mulling maritime ops despite Trump pressure over Hormuz

Japan not currently mulling maritime ops despite Trump pressure over Hormuz / Photo: © AFP

Japan said Monday it was not currently thinking about ordering maritime security operations, after US President Donald Trump called for other countries to send warships to help protect the Strait of Hormuz.

Change text size:

"In the current Iran situation, we are not at the moment considering issuing a maritime security operation," Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told parliament.

Trump called for reinforcements on Saturday from countries including Japan after earlier vowing that the US Navy would "very soon" begin escorting tankers through the vital shipping lane for oil in the Middle East.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Monday that any maritime security operation would be "extremely difficult legally".

Sending its Self-Defense Forces abroad is politically sensitive in officially pacifist Japan, as many voters support the US-imposed, war-renouncing 1947 constitution.

Takayuki Kobayashi, the policy chief of Takaichi's ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said Sunday the threshold was "extremely high" for Tokyo to send in its warships.

The world's number-four economy is the fifth-biggest importer of oil, with 95 percent of it coming from the Middle East and 70 percent passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation for the US-Israeli war against Tehran.

(W.Uljanov--DTZ)

Florida AG Investigates DSA Politicians Over Suspected Chinese and Cuban Funding

Florida Attorney-General James Uthmeier has initiated a formal investigation into the financial activities of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) politicians, focusing on allegations of foreign funding. The probe examines whether tens of thousands of dollars provided by China and Cuba were used to finance official travel for DSA delegates in 2025.

Qatar Leads Diplomatic Push to Bridge US-Iran Divide Amid Regional Tensions

Qatar is advancing a comprehensive diplomatic campaign aimed at reducing tensions between the United States and Iran and promoting regional stability. Following high-level meetings in Washington with US leadership, Qatari officials reported sustained consultations with international partners to prevent escalation and support peace efforts across the Middle East and beyond.

Eli Crane Defeats Jonathan Nez in Tight Arizona Congressional Race

Incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Eli Crane has retained his seat in Arizona’s second congressional district after defeating former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in an unexpectedly close election. The Associated Press called the race on Monday, confirming Crane’s narrow victory following nearly a week of vote counting.

Economist Testifies Canada Has Limited Power to Alter Global Climate

An environmental economist testifying at Canada’s first youth-led climate trial stated Monday that the federal government has limited power to alter the climate within its borders because global warming is largely driven by the choices of other nations. Professor David Anthoff, appearing as the first witness for the federal government in Vancouver, emphasized that while domestic policy matters, it cannot solve the problem in isolation.