Finance
Japan, France Agree to Step up Coordination on Hormuz, Iran War
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 1, 2026
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Japan and France commit to jointly pressing for an end to the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran, aiming to reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz and enhance security and industrial cooperation amid soaring energy risks.
Japan, France Forge Stronger Ties to Address Hormuz and Iran Conflict
Japan and France Coordinate Response to Middle East Crisis
Diplomatic Efforts to End Conflict and Reopen Strait of Hormuz
TOKYO, April 1 (Reuters) - Japan and France agreed on Wednesday to coordinate closely in pushing for an end to the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
"Because the international situation is so challenging, I believe there is great significance in the leaders of Japan and France deepening their personal ties and making our cooperation even stronger," Takaichi said after talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Tokyo on security ties and industrial cooperation.
Impact of Middle East Conflict on Global Energy Markets
With the Middle East conflict now in its fifth week, Japan, France and other countries are grappling with rising energy costs. Unless the conduit for about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flows reopens, they could face shortages of petroleum products.
Japan's Measures to Mitigate Energy Shortages
Japan, which normally gets around 90% of its oil from the Middle East, has begun drawing on its oil reserves to cushion the economic blow.
International Cooperation and Security Initiatives
Speaking alongside Takaichi, Macron said he shared her position on the need to restore freedom of navigation in the strait.
France has held talks with dozens of countries as it seeks proposals for a mission to reopen the waterway once the conflict ends. Japan has said it could consider dispatching minesweepers, though the scope of any role would be constrained by its pacifist constitution.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties Beyond Security
Agreements on Economic and Technological Cooperation
The two leaders also said they would pursue closer security ties in the Indo-Pacific and signed agreements on cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, civilian nuclear technology and artificial intelligence.
(Reporting by Tim Kelly and Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
Key Takeaways
- •Japan depends on over 90% of its crude oil from the Middle East—about 70% passes through the Strait of Hormuz—making the blockade a serious economic threat; Tokyo is tapping reserves equivalent to 254 days of consumption (lemonde.fr).
- •France is leading planning of a ‘purely defensive’ international naval escort mission to reopen Hormuz once hostilities ease; its military deployment includes escort assets such as frigates, carriers and the Charles de Gaulle (aa.com.tr).
- •Tokyo and Paris also agreed to deepen Indo‑Pacific security ties and signed agreements on critical minerals, civilian nuclear tech and AI cooperation to bolster strategic resilience (lemonde.fr)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Japan, France agree to step up coordination on Hormuz, Iran war
1Why are Japan and France coordinating on the Strait of Hormuz?
Japan and France are working together to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil and gas tankers after the Iran conflict disrupted major global energy routes.
2How is the Middle East conflict impacting global energy markets?
The conflict has led to higher energy costs and fears of shortages, as the Strait of Hormuz is critical for about 20% of the world's oil and gas supply.
3What actions has Japan taken in response to the energy crisis?
Japan has begun using its oil reserves to mitigate the economic impact of supply disruptions from the Middle East.
4What security and industrial agreements did Japan and France sign?
They agreed on cooperation in critical mineral supply chains, civilian nuclear technology, and artificial intelligence.
5Could Japan participate militarily in reopening the Strait of Hormuz?
Japan may consider sending minesweepers but is limited by its pacifist constitution regarding military engagement.
