Japanese Official: Cooperation with Saudi Arabia Extends Beyond Energy to Development, Regional Stability
Japan's Special Envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, Tsukasa Uemura, said Riyadh and Tokyo cooperate across Saudi Vision 2030, energy security, maritime safety and efforts to preserve regional stability and prosperity. He described the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Suez Canal as vital waterways for international trade and warned that any disruption would have repercussions far beyond the region. Uemura also cited Japan's crude oil storage cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the UAE and said Tokyo is considering financial assistance for Asian countries affected by the Gulf crisis.
Why it matters: The remarks tie energy security and maritime security to Japan's Gulf diplomacy, linking crude storage arrangements and chokepoint risk to regional stability.