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Japan is yet to reach a conclusion regarding the potential deployment of its Self-Defence Forces (SDF) for minesweeping missions in the Strait of Hormuz, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirmed on Monday.
Addressing the media on the strategic maritime situation, Kihara stated that Tokyo is urging progress toward a "comprehensive understanding" between the involved parties. Emphasising the necessity of regional stability for global trade, Kihara remarked, "What is most important is that de-escalation, including securing the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, is actually achieved," according to Kyodo News. These comments follow earlier indications from Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, who suggested last month that the country could consider such maritime operations. According to a report by Kyodo News on March 22, the top diplomat noted that any such move would be contingent on the realisation of a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. During a television appearance, Motegi highlighted Japan's advanced maritime capabilities in this specific field, asserting, "Japan's minesweeping technology is at the top level in the world." He further elaborated on the specific conditions required for deployment, stating, "Let's say (the parties have entered into a) cease-fire, and in the event that mines pose an obstacle, we may have to think about it." The Foreign Minister's remarks were made in the wake of high-level diplomatic engagements in Washington. Motegi, who attended the Japan-US summit, recalled that US President Donald Trump appeared to acknowledge Japan's constitutional and legal constraints. Kyodo News reported that the President was nodding as Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi clarified the statutory limits regarding the dispatch of Japanese naval vessels. Addressing the outcomes of the summit, Motegi clarified that there was "no specific promise" made during the talks, nor were there any outstanding issues that required immediate home-based deliberation by the Japanese government. However, the regional situation remains critical following the February 28 airstrikes launched by US and Israeli forces against Iran. Kyodo News noted that the escalation has significant ramifications for global energy security and Middle Eastern stability, particularly for Japan, which depends on the region for more than 90 per cent of its crude oil imports. (ANI)
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