Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary: Attendance of Japan's Defense Minister at the Hormuz Conference Does Not Mean Japan Will Deploy Self-Defense Forces
¬ Turkish Foreign Minister: Russia Plays a Significant Role in Turkey’s Energy Security Against the Backdrop of the Strait of Hormuz
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Chief Cabinet Secretary Kiichiro Kihara stated at a press conference that Japan's Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba attending an online meeting on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz does not imply that Japan will dispatch its Self-Defense Forces to the region.
Last Tuesday, the United Kingdom and France jointly hosted a ministerial-level conference on the Hormuz Escort Coalition, attended by over 40 countries. UK Defense Secretary John Healey and French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu co-chaired the meeting.
Kihara noted: "The purpose of this meeting is to demonstrate the international community’s resolve to uphold freedom of navigation and safety for vessels worldwide. Although Defense Minister Ishiba attended the meeting, as he stated during the session, participation does not signify involvement in military operations, and no decision has been made yet regarding the deployment of Self-Defense Forces."
The escalating tensions surrounding Iran have effectively led to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz—a critical maritime passage. As the primary route for Gulf states’ oil and liquefied natural gas exports to global markets, this blockade has also impacted oil production and export levels. Due to the disruption of the strait, most countries around the world are experiencing sharp increases in fuel and industrial product prices.
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Al Jazeera reported quoting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, stating that thanks to pipeline supplies of oil and gas from sources including Russia, Turkey’s reliance on the Strait of Hormuz is relatively low.
According to Al Jazeera, Fidan did not rule out the possibility of renewed military action between the U.S. and Iran. He warned that prolonged conflict could trigger various consequences.
Fidan said: "Three major pipelines transport oil and gas from Central Asia, Iran, Russia, and Azerbaijan to Turkey. Since our energy is not transported by sea, this does not affect our national energy security."
Fidan also emphasized that, like other nations, Turkey continues to feel the negative impacts of rising global energy prices. He cautioned that ongoing conflict could bring further adverse effects to the global economy and energy markets.
He added that Turkey is continuing diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation of the situation.
The intensification of the Iranian situation this year has led to the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off the key route through which Persian Gulf nations supply oil and liquefied gas to the world. Following the closure of the strait, fuel and industrial product prices have risen across most countries globally.
Source: sputniknews
Original: toutiao.com/article/1865064641759239/
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