Japan Seeks Middle Ground Between Solidarity, Risk Aversion Regarding Trump’s Naval Demands

By Yujiro Okabe and Kenta Kamimura / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers

7:00 JST, March 19, 2026

Japan is searching for a narrow compromise on U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for help ensuring safe navigation of the Strait of Hormuz.

The government wants to avoid being drawn into U.S. military operations, while also trying to make a certain contribution to demonstrate Japan-U.S. solidarity. Sending the Self-Defense Forces after hostilities have ended has been seen as one possibility.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is scheduled to hold talks with Trump on Thursday in Washington, and has expressed her plan to align Japan and the United States’ response to the circumstances in the Middle East.

“I will deepen discussions [with Trump] while considering Japan’s position and perspective,” she said Tuesday during a House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting.

Following the budget meeting, Takaichi discussed the latest developments with ministers including Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and others for about an hour at a National Security Council meeting in the Prime Minister’s Office.

“How to conclude the Japan-U.S. summit smoothly is the prime minister’s top priority right now,” a senior government official said.

These will be the first face-to-face talks between the Japanese and U.S. leaders since the United States launched attacks on Iran on Feb. 28. With the Middle East situation dominating the agenda, the focus of the upcoming summit will be whether Japan can gain understanding for its efforts from Trump, who has pressed countries to work hard to ensure stability in the waterway.

At this point, Japan is taking a cautious stance on dispatching naval vessels to the Strait of Hormuz in the midst of a war.

During Sunday’s phone conversation between the Japanese and U.S. defense ministers, the United States requested Japan’s endorsement of “a coalition of the willing” aimed at safe navigation of the waterway. Washington’s immediate goal, however, is to issue a joint statement to demonstrate international unity, and therefore it did not make specific demands to Tokyo, such as the dispatch of SDF personnel.

Similarly, during Monday’s phone conversation between the foreign ministers, there was no request from the United States regarding dispatch of naval vessels.

Takaichi intends to gauge Trump’s true intentions at the upcoming summit while emphasizing Japan’s own contribution initiatives, such as Japan-U.S. joint stockpiling of crude oil and the dispatch of additional liaison officers to U.S. Central Command.

“We want to make this meeting an opportunity for the two countries to confirm that we work together to calm the situation in the Middle East and stand united for stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said.

No room for complacency

It remains to be seen whether Trump — whose dissatisfaction with his allies grows by the day — will be happy with Japan’s level of contribution.

On Monday, when listing countries that rely on crude oil imports from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump singled out Japan first, saying, “Japan gets 95%.” He reiterated his long-held view that the United States has borne an excessive burden in defending its allies and appeared to pit nations against one another by saying “the level of enthusiasm, it matters to me.”

“Since he specifically said ‘Japan gets 95%,’ there is a risk he will intensify his demands during the talks,” a Japanese government official said. “We may need to keep the card of ‘dispatching naval vessels’ up our sleeve just in case.”

Dispatching SDF to the strait faces significant legal hurdles. Given that the conflict was triggered by a U.S. preemptive strike suspected of violating international law, nations such as Europe and South Korea are also hesitant to provide military cooperation, making it difficult in reality for Japan alone to make a standout contribution.

Mine sweeping and escorting ships in a situation where control of the seas and airspace has not been secured entail significant risks to mission execution.

Koizumi said Monday at the budget committee meeting: “What is legally possible and what should be done are two different matters. I have no intention of ordering missions without ensuring the safety of the SDF.”

There is a view within the government that, once the fighting has subsided, the SDF could escort civilian vessels under the Self-Defense Forces Law’s Maritime Security Operations provision. The timing of any dispatch will become a point of discussion.