Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi arrived in the Gulf this week for talks with Saudi Arabia and Oman, as disruption around two of the region’s crucial shipping routes place maritime security and the resilience of energy flows high on the agenda.<\/p>\n
Mr Motegi met his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Wednesday and is due to travel to Oman on Thursday, where talks are expected to focus on regional security, energy and freedom of navigation. He is on a four-day regional tour. <\/p>\n
The visit comes as Saudi Arabia works to maintain oil exports through the Red Sea amid renewed Houthi threats, while Oman<\/a> is engaged in discussions with Iran<\/a> over arrangements governing shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n For Gulf states, Mr Motegi’s itinerary underscores the growing interest among major Asian energy consumers in the security of the region’s maritime routes, as prolonged disruption threatens energy supplies, trade and wider economic stability.<\/p>\n In Riyadh, Prince Faisal<\/a> said Japan is a key economic partner for Saudi Arabia<\/a> and the kingdom aims to capitalise on opportunities in both countries, according to a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see promising opportunities to expand co-operation in investment, energy, resources, supply chains, defence and technology, as well as in the exchange of expertise and capabilities, in a manner that supports our priorities and achieves our shared goals,\u201d said Prince Faisal during the third strategic dialogue between the two countries.<\/p>\n He said the kingdom would remain a reliable partner for Japan<\/a> across various sectors, including energy, and commended Tokyo\u2019s efforts to strengthen economic resilience and promote stability in energy markets and global trade.<\/p>\n Prince Faisal also described maritime security as a shared priority, stressing the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation on international waterways in accordance with international law.<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia is one of Japan\u2019s main crude oil suppliers, alongside the UAE. <\/p>\n The talks come as tension over the Strait of Hormuz<\/a> remains high. US President Donald Trump<\/a> said this week that no talks were taking place with Iran \u200band that the strait was open. Iran, however, \u200csaid the waterway remained shut.<\/p>\n