Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi Tours Gulf to Address Maritime Security and Energy Flows

Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi has arrived in the Gulf for critical diplomatic talks with Saudi Arabia and Oman, focusing heavily on maritime security and the stability of vital energy supply chains. During his four-day regional tour, Mr Motegi met with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Wednesday, with an upcoming visit to Oman scheduled for Thursday to discuss regional security, energy, and freedom of navigation.

The high-stakes visit occurs as Saudi Arabia strives to protect its oil exports through the Red Sea in the face of renewed Houthi threats, while Oman participates in ongoing discussions with Iran regarding navigation arrangements in the Strait of Hormuz. These developments highlight the mounting concern among major Asian energy consumers regarding the vulnerability of key maritime corridors.

During the third strategic dialogue between the two nations in Riyadh, Prince Faisal emphasized that Japan remains a crucial economic partner for Saudi Arabia. According to a statement from the Saudi Press Agency, Prince Faisal stated, “We see promising opportunities to expand co-operation in investment, energy, resources, supply chains, defence and technology, as well as in the exchange of expertise and capabilities, in a manner that supports our priorities and achieves our shared goals.” He also reaffirmed the kingdom's reliability as an energy partner and underscored the mutual commitment to safeguarding international waterways in accordance with international law.

As one of Japan's primary crude oil suppliers alongside the UAE, Saudi Arabia faces mounting pressure on its export routes. The ongoing tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz—where US President Donald Trump stated the strait was open while Iran maintained it was shut—have drastically reduced shipping flows compared to prewar levels from before the conflict broke out on February 28. These disruptions have forced Saudi Arabia to reroute crude through its East-West pipeline to Yanbu, which is concurrently facing threats from renewed Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.