Japan Considers Minesweeping in Strait of Hormuz to Protect Global Oil Flow

Japan could deploy its military for minesweeping operations in the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is reached in the ongoing war between the US, Israel, and Iran, The Japan Times reported on March 22, citing Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.

During a broadcast on Fuji TV, Motegi clarified that while the scenario remains hypothetical, clearing naval mines would be a priority once a ceasefire is established to remove obstacles to global trade.

The Japan Times reported that the Strait of Hormuz—a conduit for a fifth of the world’s oil—has been largely closed for four weeks, forcing Japan and other nations to release emergency oil reserves. Under Japan’s 2015 security legislation, the Self-Defense Forces can operate overseas if an attack on a security partner threatens Japan’s survival, a legal threshold that Tokyo is currently navigating.

The announcement follows a high-stakes summit in Washington where US President Donald Trump urged Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to “step up” and send warships to help reopen the waterway. While Japan receives approximately 90% of its oil via the strait, Takaichi briefed Trump on the strict legal limits imposed by Japan’s pacifist Constitution.

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According to The Japan Times, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has also held discussions with Motegi regarding the potential passage of Japanese-related vessels, though Tokyo maintains that creating conditions for all ships to navigate safely remains the “extremely important” priority.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sent shockwaves through the global energy market, mirroring the supply chain disruptions seen during the early stages of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Energy analysts have previously warned that the simultaneous crises in the Middle East and Eastern Europe have pushed global fuel prices to historic highs.

As Japan considers a direct military role in securing its energy lifelines, the international community is watching closely to see if Tokyo will rephrase its traditional pacifist stance to counter the economic leverage held by Tehran and its strategic partner, Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

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