Sanae Takaichi, the Prime Minister of Japan, said on Monday that Japan has no plans to send naval vessels to escort vessels around the Middle East. Donald Trump has called on allies in the Middle East to help protect tankers that are traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

"We haven't made any decisions about dispatching escort vessels." Takaichi, a member of parliament, said that we are still examining what Japan can do on its own and what it can do within the legal framework.

Trump's social media call for U.S. allies to protect oil and gas shipping through the strategic waterway places Tokyo in a tough position. While it relies heavily on Middle East energy, its constitution, which prohibits war, limits the scope of military operations that can be conducted overseas.

Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force conducted anti-piracy missions in waters near the Middle East. However, these missions were policing missions?rather then combat missions against state agents. Japan could deploy its military overseas in response to what it deems an existential threat to the nation. However, this would be difficult to justify politically and legally for Takaichi’s government.

Takaichi is scheduled to visit Washington, D.C. this week to meet with Trump and discuss the conflict between Iran and Japan.

She told legislators that she would "engage in solid discussion" based on Japan's position and views regarding the necessity for an early de-escalation. Reporting by Tim Kelly, Editing by Michael Perry and Raju Gopikrishnan

(source: Reuters)