US President Donald Trump is pressing Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takayichi to commit forces to securing the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz during her White House visit on Thursday. Simultaneously, Washington is considering lifting sanctions on Iranian oil shipments to rein in surging global energy prices triggered by the war that began on February 28.
Takayichi reiterated on Wednesday before parliament that she will be “frank” with Trump regarding Japan’s legal and constitutional constraints on deploying Self-Defense Forces abroad in military operations. She stated: “We will do what we can within the limits of Japanese law. What we cannot do, we will not do. I intend to be very clear on this matter.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Besnett announced on Thursday that Washington may lift sanctions on Iranian oil stored in tankers, reflecting an attempt to manage escalating energy costs. This partial retreat from a hardline position on Iran reveals a fundamental tension within Trump’s administration between military objectives and economic pressures on allies and global markets.
Washington’s Push for Allies to Secure Hormuz
Trump called on US allies, including Japan and China, to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has nearly completely closed. Approximately one-fifth of global oil production passes through the waterway, making its reopening crucial for global economic stability.
The calls faced near-total rejection from US allies, which angered the Trump administration. These refusals reflect deep reservations among allied nations about committing to military operations that could escalate the conflict and worsen the humanitarian crisis across the Middle East.
Japan occupies a special position among these allies. Trump visited Japan in October and was received with considerable fanfare, publicly endorsing Takayichi before her party’s landslide victory in parliamentary elections on February 8. However, this support has not prevented Trump from directly pressuring Japan for military assistance.
Tokyo’s Difficult Position and Constitutional Constraints
Saiori Romi, an expert at the German Marshall Fund, described Japan’s conservative-led government as being “in an extremely difficult position.” Takayichi must set “clear boundaries” against American demands while “ensuring Japan does not make promises it cannot keep” regarding Hormuz security.
Romi pointed to a fundamental paradox: “The country’s energy security depends on Iranian oil.” This means any military operation against Iran could threaten Japan’s own vital energy supplies, creating an impossible choice for the government.
Deploying Self-Defense Forces abroad in military operations remains politically sensitive in a formally pacifist Japan. Many voters support the 1947 Constitution, imposed by the United States after World War II, which renounces war as a means of settling disputes. Takayichi emphasized: “The other party must be fully aware of Japan’s legal framework given recent developments.” Yet predicting Trump’s receptiveness to institutional constraints proves difficult, given his mercurial temperament.
Japan’s Critical Dependence on Middle Eastern Oil
Japan ranks as the world’s fourth-largest economy and the fifth-largest oil importer globally. The country derives approximately 95 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, with 70 percent of those supplies transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The Middle East war has already triggered sharp increases in energy prices, directly impacting Japanese companies and households. Japan is experiencing weak economic growth while accumulating substantial public debt, meaning surging energy costs place additional strain on an already fragile economy.
This explains Takayichi’s likely prioritization of economic issues during her White House meeting. Japan has pledged to invest 550 billion dollars in the United States in exchange for tariff reductions from 25 percent to 15 percent. She may attempt to use these economic commitments as negotiating leverage to avoid direct military entanglements.
Rare Earth Minerals and Technological Cooperation
Takayichi will discuss Japan’s plans to extract rare earth minerals through proposed cooperation with the United States to exploit deposits recently discovered in the Pacific Ocean.
Rare earth elements constitute strategically vital resources for modern and military technology. US-Japan cooperation in this sector would provide a strategic alternative reducing dependence on Chinese sources.
This proposal reflects Takayichi’s attempt to redirect discussions toward areas of mutual cooperation serving shared interests rather than direct military commitments.
Washington Considers Lifting Sanctions on Iranian Oil
Treasury Secretary Scott Besnett announced on Thursday that Washington may lift sanctions on Iranian oil stored in tankers, attempting to manage soaring energy prices resulting from the Middle East war.
The announcement came to Fox Business as oil and gas prices spiked following Iran’s strike on the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar, with threats of further attacks on regional energy infrastructure.
This partial retreat reflects an attempt by the Trump administration to balance its declared military objectives against Iran with genuine economic pressures on its allies and the US economy itself.
Additional Measures to Stabilize Energy Prices
Besnett indicated that the US government may also release additional quantities from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Trump administration is working hard to curb rising energy costs amid the US-Israeli war against Iran that began February 28.
Iran’s responses have resulted in near-total cessation of commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global energy supply chains. Approximately one-fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas previously transited this vital waterway during peacetime.
Brent crude prices rose 10 percent early Thursday before retreating to a 5 percent gain at 112.76 dollars per barrel. These fluctuations reflect market instability and investor uncertainty regarding the conflict’s trajectory and duration.
Russian Oil Precedent and Sanctions Flexibility
The United States recently permitted temporary sales of sanctioned Russian oil already at sea as the Middle East war expanded. This precedent demonstrates the Trump administration’s willingness to apply sanctions policy flexibly when energy prices impact global markets.
This pattern suggests that economic pressures on allies and world markets may push Washington to retreat from some of its punitive commitments against adversaries. It may reflect recognition by the Trump administration that prolonged war and tightened sanctions could harm allies’ interests and trading partners’ welfare.
Geopolitical Challenges and Regional Concerns
With Japan-China tensions rising recently, Tokyo worries that the Trump administration may show little interest in maintaining regional stability. A senior Japanese official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “We hope the visit will include issues related to the Indo-Pacific region.”
Trump is scheduled to visit China next month after postponing his late-March trip at his own request due to the Middle East war, which erupted following an American-Israeli attack on Iran on February 29. This upcoming China visit raises concerns that geopolitical deals could emerge affecting regional stability without adequate consultation with Asian allies.
Impact on Takayichi’s Popularity
The Japanese prime minister’s popularity faces testing amid the Middle East war. The conflict has triggered sharp increases in energy prices directly impacting Japanese companies and households.
These economic pressures could undermine Takayichi’s popularity if energy prices continue rising. Japanese citizens may perceive their government as unable to protect national economic interests against American pressure and global crises.
Pentagon’s Position and No Definitive Timeline
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Thursday that there is “no time frame” for ending the US-Israeli war against Iran, which launched three weeks ago.
Hegseth stated: “We wouldn’t want to set a definitive time frame,” adding that “we’re very much on track” and President Trump will decide when operations cease. He said: “It will be at the president’s choosing, ultimately, where we say, ‘Hey, we’ve achieved what we need to.'”
This statement reflects American intent to continue military operations without clear temporal limits. It suggests the war could persist for extended periods, further impacting Japan and other allies through sustained energy price increases.
Military Funding Requests and Weapons Deployment
Hegseth referenced Pentagon requests for over 200 billion dollars in additional congressional funding. He stated: “As for 200 billion dollars, I think that number could move. Obviously it takes money to kill bad guys.”
General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, provided details on deployed weapons. He noted that A-10 Warthogs are “hunting and killing fast-attack watercraft” in the Strait of Hormuz. AH-64 Apaches are being used in Iraq targeting Iran-aligned militia groups, with some American allies beginning to deploy these helicopters against Iranian one-way drones.
Conclusion:
Thursday’s developments reveal deep tensions within American policy toward its wars and allies. While Washington pressures Japan to commit to military operations securing the Strait of Hormuz, the White House simultaneously considers retreating from economic sanctions against Iran to curb energy price increases. This contradiction reflects genuine conflict between military objectives and economic realities. Takayichi faces an extremely difficult equation: maintaining alliance relationships with Washington while protecting Japan’s constitutional framework and economic interests. The broader picture suggests Trump’s administration is discovering that unlimited military commitment requires compromises on its stated objectives.
