Trump urges Japan to 'step up' to support U.S. in Iran war

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his expectation for Japan to "step up" to support the United States in the Iran war, signaling pressure on Washington's allies to actively help in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on March 19. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday expressed his expectation for Japan to "step up" to support the United States in the Iran war, signaling pressure on Washington's allies — including South Korea — to actively help in keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.

Trump made the remarks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the White House, noting that Japan relies heavily on the waterway for its energy imports, and that the United States has provided defense support to the Asian country with thousands of American troops stationed there.

The Iran war has effectively choked off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route, escalating concerns over its impact on oil prices and inflation. The waterway is responsible for about a fifth of the world's oil supply.

“I expect Japan to step up because [...] we have that kind of relationship, and we step up in Japan. We have 45,000 soldiers in Japan. We spent a lot of money on Japan," he said. "I am not surprised that they would step up."

"Iran is a serious threat to the world, to the Middle East and to the world," Trump said. "And everybody agrees with me. I think virtually every country agrees with me on that."

The remarks were widely interpreted as part of Washington's broader push for allies to shoulder more security responsibilities, particularly in energy security and maritime defense.

He did not elaborate on how Japan can help the United States.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on Marh 19. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

Trump also reiterated that Japan gets more than 90 percent of its oil through the strait. Japan is one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) and crude importers, making it especially vulnerable to supply shocks.

“That's a big reason to step up," he said, noting that the United States does not need anything from Japan or anyone else.

"We don't use the strait," Trump said, referring to the Strait of Hormuz. "We're defending the strait for everybody else."

On Saturday, Trump called for South Korea, Japan, France, Britain and other countries affected by Iran's attempt to close the strait, to send ships to help secure the waterway. But days later, he said the United States no longer needs their naval assistance, in an apparent show of discomfort over their perceived reluctance.

Later, during a meeting with reporters, Takaichi said that the consensus between the leaders was that ensuring the safety of the Strait of Hormuz is "of utmost importance," according to a pool report.

A man refuels a motorcycle at a gas station in Tokyo on March 18. Oil prices sank on March 18 after Iraq said it had resumed exports through Turkey, avoiding the effectively closed Strait of Hormuz, while equities rose following another tech-led advance on Wall Street. [AFP/YONHAP]

“However, there are certain actions we can and cannot take within the scope of Japanese law, so I provided a detailed and thorough explanation of this matter," she said.

Japan's pacifist constitution and strict limits on collective self-defense have historically constrained its ability to participate in overseas military operations. Any direct deployment near the Strait of Hormuz would require careful legal interpretation under Tokyo's security legislation, which remains politically sensitive domestically. Japan previously dispatched a Self-Defense Forces intelligence-gathering mission to the Middle East in 2020, stopping short of joining U.S.-led maritime coalitions.

During the meeting, Trump and Takaichi put up a united front against Iran's nuclear ambitions, its strikes along the Strait of Hormuz and on its neighboring countries during the war.

“Speaking of the situation in Iran, Iran's development of nuclear weapons must never be allowed, and that is why we, Japan, have been urging them and also reaching out to other partners in the world," Takaichi said through an interpreter.

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, meets with Japanese Prime Minster SanaeTakaichi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19. [EPA/YONHAP]

“In addition, Japan condemns Iran's actions, such as attacking neighboring countries and also the de facto or effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz."

The prime minister also said that she firmly believes that Trump is the only leader who can achieve peace across the world, as she pointed to a "very severe" global security environment.

Touching on China, she underscored that Tokyo has "consistently" been open to dialogue with Beijing, and that it has been managing relations with China "in a calm manner."

Relations between China and Japan have been frayed after Takaichi remarked on Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, which China regards as part of its territory, and Beijing's subsequent responses to them, including economic and military pressure.

Trump also acknowledged recent friction between Beijing and Tokyo, calling the current tensions "a little bit of an edgy relationship."

Members of the media are seen as U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Japanese Prime Minster SanaeTakaichi in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on March 19. [EPA/YONHAP]

"My sincere hope is that the relationship will be something conducive to regional security while also ensuring the global supply chain," she said. Trump referred to his own relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the postponed U.S.-China summit, which was delayed from its initial schedule of March 31 to April 2. "The trip has been postponed for about a month and a half," Trump said. "It's been reset, and we look forward to it. And I'll be speaking Japan's praises when I'm in China with President Xi."

During the meeting, Trump vowed to take "whatever is necessary" to bring down oil prices, amid deepening concerns over the economic repercussions of the war in the Middle East.

His remarks came hours after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox Business that the United States may "unsanction" Iranian oil, which is already at sea, to help stabilize energy prices. He said the amount of oil in question is about 140 million barrels.

In an aerial view, the Big Spring Refinery is seen in Big Spring, Texas on Marh 19. The Donald Trump administration announced it is considering multiple options to boost oil supplies as it seeks solutions to the global energy crisis that followed U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. [AFP/YONHAP]

Oil prices surged Thursday as Iran launched strikes on energy facilities across the Middle East, with Trump having threatened to "blow up" Iran's South Pars gas field the previous day if Tehran targets Qatar's energy facilities again.

Asked if he plans to deploy more troops to the Middle East to support the military operation against Iran, Trump said, "No."

“I am not putting troops anywhere," he said. "If I were, I certainly wouldn't tell you, but I am not putting troops."

Touching on Kharg Island, where 90 percent of Iran's oil exports are processed, Trump said the United States can "take out the island anytime we want."

“We've taken out everything but the pipes [on the island]," he said. "We left the pipes because to rebuild the pipes would take years."

Responding to a reporter's question about why the United States did not inform allies in advance of the attack on Iran, Trump said that the United States wanted "surprise." He also brought up the bitter memory of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.

“Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?" Trump said.

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, on Marh 19. [AP/YONHAP]

During their talks, Trump and Takaichi discussed bilateral cooperation on trade, critical mineral supply chains and defense, among other issues.

Topics at the summit also included diplomacy with North Korea on issues, including that of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago.

“While I cannot go into specifics regarding diplomatic exchanges, I did convey to him that I personally have a very strong desire to meet with Mr. Kim Jong-un directly," she said, according to the pool report. "We discussed that process. They have agreed to cooperate in various ways."

The discussion on North Korea comes amid renewed uncertainty over stalled denuclearization talks and growing concerns over Pyongyang’s weapons development.

BY LIM JEONG-WON, YONHAP [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]