Arab News Japan

TOKYO: Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, AKAZAWA Ryosei, stated that Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have confirmed their cooperation to ensure a stable crude oil supply for Japan.

Akazawa shared on X Platform that he visited Saudi Arabia and the UAE just before the G7 Trade Ministers Meeting in Paris on Wednesday.

He told Japanese reporters he personally delivered a formal letter from Prime Minister TAKAICHI Sanae to the leaders of both countries.

In Saudi Arabia, Akazawa met with Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to discuss shared concerns about energy security.

In the UAE, Akazawa engaged in high-level talks with Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al-Jaber. He put forward five bold initiatives to secure a steady energy flow, speed up the replenishment of their shared 8-million-barrel reserves, and lay the groundwork for expanding these reserves well into the future.

The UAE government agreed to these proposals, committing to replenish previously released stocks and increase future reserves to strengthen energy security, according to Akazawa, as quoted by Jiji Press.

The ministers pledged to join forces to safeguard crucial supply routes, a pressing concern as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed amid the regional crisis.

Beyond addressing urgent logistical hurdles, Akazawa called for broad cooperation to boost crude oil reserves across Asia and pledged financial backing for new transport routes that sidestep volatile chokepoints.

The UAE, which accounts for nearly 40% of Japan’s crude oil imports, has recently left OPEC and is forging ahead with independent plans to ramp up its production capacity.

Even as an Iranian missile attack struck the UAE during his visit, Jiji Press quoted Akazawa as assuring he was safe and described his diplomatic efforts as exceptionally fruitful. He underscored that the mission deepened Japan’s energy alliances amid intense geopolitical upheaval.