Japanese FM visits Saudi Arabia and Oman with maritime security in focus

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi embarked on a four-day tour of the Gulf on Wednesday, focusing on maritime security and energy resilience during his talks with Saudi Arabia and Oman. The Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, received Motegi in Riyadh, where they discussed regional security, energy, and freedom of navigation.

Motegi's visit comes amid heightened concerns over the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz, crucial shipping routes for energy supplies and trade. Saudi Arabia is working to maintain oil exports through the Red Sea despite Houthi threats, while Oman engages with Iran over shipping regulations in the Strait of Hormuz.

Prince Faisal emphasized the importance of maritime security, stating that it is a shared priority. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia's role as a reliable partner for Japan across various sectors, including energy, and praised Tokyo's efforts to strengthen economic resilience and promote stability in energy markets and global trade.

The talks follow high tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, where US President Donald Trump announced no talks with Iran, while Iran claimed the waterway remained closed. Shipping traffic through the channel remained unchanged, despite discussions to end the US-Iran conflict being deadlocked. This disruption has forced Saudi Arabia to redirect crude exports through its East-West pipeline to Yanbu, which is now threatened by Houthi attacks.