Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. [Yonhap]
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. [Yonhap]

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae said protecting the Strait of Hormuz is essential, delivering the message ahead of her European tour.

In an op-ed titled "Building Resilience in a Turbulent World," published June 12 in the Financial Times, Takaichi said the international community faces urgent challenges, including what amounts to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

She described the strait as a "strategic chokepoint" and "international public good," adding that "recent developments in this waterway are putting pressure on the rules-based free and open international order that Japan has consistently championed."

"Protecting this sea lane in accordance with international law is necessary to secure supply chain resilience for energy and other essential goods," she wrote. "This is a view shared by many, and Japan will work closely with other nations at next week's G7 summit to sustain diplomatic efforts."

Takaichi departs Saturday to attend the Group of Seven summit, which opens Monday in Évian, France. She will also make separate stops in the United Kingdom and Italy for bilateral summit talks.

She also cited her "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" initiative — one of her signature foreign policy goals — saying the region, which accounts for 50 percent of global GDP, "holds the key to peace and stability in the world of the future."

On her planned meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, she said the two leaders would cooperate on energy, next-generation communications technology and security policy.

Takaichi also likened herself to Margaret Thatcher — once nicknamed the "Iron Lady" — calling herself "Japan's Iron Lady" and expressing firm resolve to drive necessary change even in the face of political resistance.


klee@heraldcorp.com