Japan declines to deploy ships for Strait of Hormuz mine clearance

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament that Japan does not plan to deploy Self-Defence Forces for mine clearance in the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi emphasised that participation in such an operation during an ongoing conflict could be considered the use of military force, which would conflict with Japan’s constitution, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

She added that such a mission would only be possible after hostilities officially end, when mines are considered abandoned, and their removal would not violate the law.

“It is extremely difficult in practice to predict at what specific point mines that were initially laid as part of an armed attack against another country would become abandoned mines,” PM noted.

Takaichi’s comments in parliament come ahead of her trip to Washington, where she will meet Trump on March 19, with no US request yet for Japanese military support in Iran.

“I would like to deepen our discussions toward calming the situation in the Middle East,” Takaichi said of her upcoming meeting with Trump.

By Jeyhun Aghazada