Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is visiting the US soon for talks with Trump
Tokyo has not officially responded to Trump’s call for its warships to be sent to the Strait of Hormuz.
But the Japanese government believes the issue could be on the agenda during Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s upcoming trip to the US, which starts on Wednesday, according to local media.
A defence ministry official told Japanese outlet NHK on Sunday morning that Japan could be “forced to make difficult decisions” if it dispatches its Self-Defence Forces.
The official added that the government needs to “carefully assess” whether there will be special requests regarding this during the Japan-US summit.
Meanwhile, a foreign ministry official told the outlet that Tokyo will not immediately dispatch naval vessels just because Trump asked.
“Japan decides its own response, and independent judgment is fundamental,” the official said.
