Japan and Australia have both confirmed that they do not plan to deploy naval vessels to the Middle East to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
The announcements come after US President Donald Trump called on Washington’s allies to form a coalition to help reopen the strategically vital waterway. Trump said discussions were ongoing with seven countries to ensure the safe passage of vessels amid escalating tensions between the US, Israel, and Iran, which have sent global energy markets into turmoil.
Trump stressed that nations heavily dependent on Gulf oil bear a responsibility to protect the strait, urging them to take action. While he did not name the seven countries in talks, he expressed hope over the weekend that China, France, Japan, South Korea, Britain, and others would participate.
However, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament that Tokyo has no plans to dispatch naval escorts to the region. “We have made no decisions regarding the deployment of escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and within the framework of the law,” she said.
Similarly, Australia announced it will not send naval vessels to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Cabinet member Catherine King, speaking on ABC, said, “We will not be sending ships to the Strait of Hormuz. We recognise the importance of the issue, but it is neither requested of us nor something we will contribute.”
The US continues to seek support from its allies as tensions in the Middle East persist, but both Tokyo and Canberra have opted to refrain from military involvement.
